THE LION. 



'37 



more closely, the fresh remains of a young springbok were also discovered. We 

 therefore conjectured that the Lion and Lioness, being very hungry, and the antelope 

 not proving a sufficient meal for both, had quarrelled ; and he, after killing his wife, 

 had coolly eaten her also." 



The same writer relates a curious instance of a wounded Lion being torn in pieces 

 by a troop of his fellows. 



In the attack of large animals, the Lion seldom attempts an unaided assault, but 

 joins in the pursuit with several companions. Thus it seems to be that the stately 

 giraffe is slain by the Lion, five of which have been seen engaged in the chase of one 

 giraffe, two actually pulling down their prey, while the other three were waiting close 

 at hand. The Lions were driven off, and the neck of the giraffe was found to be bitten 

 through by the cruel teeth of the assailants. 



When the Lion kills an eland, and does not happen to be very ravenously hungry, he 

 feeds daintily on the heart and other viscera, not often touching the remainder of the 

 flesh. In so doing, he rips open the abdomen with his powerful claws, and tearing out 

 his favorite morsels, devours them. Sometimes, after satisfying his hunger, he will 

 leave the eland lying on the ground apparently uninjured, the only visible wound being 

 that which he has made by tearing the animal open. 



Owing to the uniform tawny color of the Lion's coat, he is hardly distinguishable 

 from surrounding objects even in broad daylight, and by night he walks secure. Even 

 the practised eyes of an accomplished hunter have been unable to detect the bodies of 

 Lions which were lapping water at some twenty yards' distance, betraying their vicinity 

 by the sound, but so blended in form with the landscape, that they afforded no mark 

 for the rifle even at that short distance. 



Under such circumstances, their glowing eyes afford the only means by which they 

 can be discovered, and even with such assistance the position of the body cannot be 

 made out. The felidae tread so silently, that no footfall gives notice of their where- 

 abouts ; and aided by the beautiful mechanism of the "whiskers," they appear to be 

 enabled to thread their stealthy way, almost without the aid of eyes. 



Each whisker hair is, in fact, an organ endued with an 

 exquisite sense of touch, and in connection with a set of large 

 nerves that convey to the brain the least touch. In the en- 

 graving is given a magnified representation of a single hair- 

 bulb of one of the whiskers, together with the nerves by means 

 of which the hair is converted into a tactile organ. It will be 

 seen, on reference to the figure, that if the extremity of the 

 hair is touched, a pressure will instantly be made on the 

 nerves at its root. By means of these delicate feelers, the 

 animals are able to guide themselves through the thickets, 

 and to escape the risk of alarming their intended prey by 

 too rude a contact with the branches. 



Among the more inland settlers of Southern Africa, 

 adventures with the Lion are of common occurrence. As 

 may be expected, many of these rencontres are of a deeply 

 tragic nature, while others are imbued with a decidedly comic 

 element. A great number of original anecdotes of this 

 nature have been most kindly placed at my disposal by 

 Captain Drayson, who heard them from the lips of the actors 

 themselves. In these narratives, the characters of both man 



and beast are well shown. 



ROOT AND NERVES OF LION S 

 WHISKER HAIR. 



u ANY person who has mixed much with either Dutch, 



Hottentot, or Kaffir sportsmen, is sure to have heard many exciting and curious adven- 

 tures connected with the chase of the Lion. From amongst a somewhat large stock [ 

 will now select one or two anecdotes which will serve to illustrate either the habits 

 and character of the animal or the method of hunting him. 



