TIIK I, ION. 



119 



satisfied. Wlion the lioness was near her time of whelping, it was thought advisable to take the dog 

 away; but shortly after, when the keepers were cleaning the dew, the dog, by some uiean.s, got into it, 

 and approached the lioness with his wonted fondness, while she was playing with her cubs. She made 

 a sudden spring at him, and, seizing the poor little animal in her mouth, seemed us if she would tear 

 him to pieces, when, as -if she momentarily recollected her former kindness, she carried him to the 

 door of the den, and suffered him to be taken out unhurt. 



One of the most interesting cages in the Zoological Gardens is that which contains a family 

 party, consisting of the mastiff with the lion and his mate. They were brought up together from 

 eulihood, and agree marvellously well, though thedog would prove little more than a mouthful for either 

 of his noble-looking companions. Visitors express much sympathy for him, and fancy that the lion is 

 only saving him up, as the Giant did Jack, for a future feast. But their sympathy appears to be 

 thrown away. "Lion" has always maintained the ascendancy he assumed as a pup, and any rough 

 handling on the part of his huge playfellows is immediately resented by his flying at their n 

 Although the dog is allowed to come out of the den every morning, he shows a great disinclination to 

 leave his old friends. It is, however, thought advisable to separate them at feeding-time. 



On the 20th of October, 1816, the Exeter mail-coach was proceeding to London, and the driver 

 had pulled up at Winter's-Low-Hut, seven miles from Salisbury, for the delivery of the bags, when 



MASKLIiSS LION. 



one of the leaders was seized by a ferocious animal. This produced great consternation, and two 

 inside passengers got out and ran into the inn, while the horse kicked and plunged violently, and it 

 was with the greatest difficulty that the coachman could prevent the mail from being over- 

 turned. 



He and the guard soon observed, by the light of the lamps, that the assailant was a huge lioness. 

 The horse, when first attacked, fought with great spirit, and if he had been at liberty might, perhaps, 

 have beaten down his antagonist witli his fore feet, but in plunging he had become embarrassed by the 

 harness. The lioness, it appears, attacked him in front, and, springing at the throat, had fastened tli 

 talons of her fore feet on each side of his gullet, close to the head, while the talons of her hind feet 

 were f. .-rd into the chest. In this situation she hung, missing the throat and the jugular vein, while 

 the blood was streaming down the horse, whose tears and moans were most piteous and affecting. 



A large; mastiff soon came up and made a fierce attack on the lioness, on which she left the horse 

 and turned upon him; he succeeded in escaping, only, however, to be killed by the lioness within about, 

 lorty yards of the spot where the mail stood. The lioness, as it turned out, had escaped from a caravan 



