88 VERTEBRATA. MAMMALIA. 



at this instant, the dogs flew boldly in between 

 us and the Lion, and surrounding him, kept him 

 at bay by their violent and resolute barking. The 

 Lion, conscious of his strength, remained unmoved 

 at their noisy attempts, and kept his head turned 

 towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving 

 his eye thus engaged, had advanced close to his 

 feet, and seemed as if they would actually seize 

 hold of him ; but they paid dearly for their impru- 

 dence ; for without discomposing the majestic and 

 steady attitude in which he stood fixed, he merely 

 moved his paw, and at the next instant I beheld 

 two dogs lying dead. In doing this he made so 

 little exertion, that it was scarcely perceptible by 

 what means they had been killed. Of the time 

 which we had gained, by the interference of the 

 dogs, not a moment was lost ; we fired upon him ; 

 one of the balls went through his side, just below 

 the short ribs, and the blood immediately began 

 to flow ; but the animal still remained standing 

 in the same position. We had no doubt that he 

 would spring upon us ; every gun was instantly re- 

 loaded ; but he moved quietly away, though I had 

 hoped in a few minutes to have been able to take 

 hold of his paw without danger. This was con- 

 sidered by our party to be a Lion of the largest 

 size, and seemed, as I measured him by comparison 

 with the dogs, to be, though less bulky, as large as 

 an ox. He was certainly as long in body, though 

 lower in stature ; and his copious mane gave him a 

 truly formidable appearance. He was of that variety 



