CARNARIA. CARNIVORA. 87 



through the deep blue mirror of the reed-fringed 

 pool. When brought to land, he was flayed and 

 decapitated for his skull. He was a young male, 

 scarcely so large as a lioness, and his imperfect, short 

 tawny mane, showed him to be not nearly full grown, 

 which accounted for the most unusual circumstance 

 of his declining fight, instead of coming in at once. 

 The female, to which we returned, was of tolerable 

 size, though not so large nor handsome as the first 

 killed, though she had four unborn whelps, with 

 downy skins, striped like the tiger. Our horses 

 did not exhibit the least appearance of alarm or 

 dislike to approach her close ; but it is well known 

 that they become paralyzed with terror, at the rush 

 of a living Lion."* 



Mr. Burchell has recorded an encounter, in which 

 the Lion displayed much more of his characteristic 

 dignity and fearlessness. Having roused from some 

 rushes a large Lion and Lioness, the latter escaped, 

 " but the Lion came steadily forward, and stood still 

 to look at us. At this moment we felt our situation 

 not free from danger, as the animal seemed prepar- 

 ing to spring upon us, and we were standing on the 

 bank, at the distance of only a few yards from him, 

 most of us being on foot, unarmed, without any 

 visible possibility of escaping. I was on foot myself, 

 and it was useless to attempt avoiding him. I stood 

 well upon my guard, holding my pistols in my hand 

 with my finger upon the trigger ; and those who had 

 muskets kept themselves similarly prepared. But, 

 * United Serv. Jour. Aug. 1834. 



