78 VERTEBRATA. MAMMALIA. 



larly active amidst the lightning and rain of the 

 terrific thunder-storms which so often occur by night 

 in South Africa. Mr. Burchell says, " Such nights 

 I already knew by dear-bought experience, favour 

 the prowling Lion, and seem to give him a spirit of 

 daringness which he seldom evinces at other times. 

 Taking advantage of the disorder and confusion into 

 which the other animals are thrown by the conflict- 

 ing elements, which make no impression on him, he 

 appears to advance upon them with less caution than 

 usual." The amazing strength of the muscles of 

 his great head and neck is shewn in his ability to 

 carry, even for miles, such animals as a horse, a 

 heifer, or a buffalo. " His mode of attack is gene- 

 rally from ambush, approaching slowly and silently 

 till within a leap of his destined prey, on which he 

 then springs, or throws himself with a force, which 

 is thought, in general, to deprive the victim of life 

 before the teeth are employed. It is said that this 

 blow will divide the spine of a horse, and that the 

 power of his teeth and jaws will break the largest 

 bones. His mode of attacking the buffalo is by 

 springing on him, and fixing his fangs in the throat ; 

 then sticking his paw into the animal's face, he 

 twists round the head, and pins him to the ground 

 by the horns, holding him in that situation till he 

 expires." 



In the wild glens and bushy plains of the Cape 

 Colony, the Lion is still abundant, and many spirit- 

 rousing adventures, many bold assaults, and many 

 hair-breadth escapes are upon record. Mr. Steed- 



