204 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



several places, was after all generously left with 

 life. 



The strength of this animal is great : one of them 

 was observed to seize a heifer, which it carried off 

 in its mouth with ease, and leaped over a ditch 

 without much apparent difficulty. 



At the Cape of Good Hope, the Lion is frequently 

 hunted by the colonists. In the day time, and 

 upon an open plain, twelve or sixteen Dogs will 

 easily get the better of a large Lion. As the Lion 

 is not remarkably swift, the Dogs soon come pretty 

 near him ; when, with a sullen kind of magnanimity, 

 he turns round, and waits for the attack, shaking 

 his mane, and roaring with a short and sharp tone. 

 The hounds surround him; and rushing upon him 

 all at once, soon tear him to pieces. It is said that 

 he has seldom time to make more than two or three 

 strokes with his paws; each of which is attended 

 with the death of one of his assailants. 



The Lioness goes with young five months, and 

 brings forth three or four at a time. The young 

 ones are about the size of a large Pug-Dog, harm- 

 less, pretty, and playful. They continue at the teat 

 twelve months, and are about five years in coming 

 to perfection. 



The attachment of the Lioness to her young is 

 remarkably strong : for their support, she is more 

 ferocious than the Lion himself, makes her incur- 

 sions with greater boldness, destroys, without 

 distinction, every animal that falls in her way, and 

 carries it reeking to her cubs. She usually brings 

 forth in the most retired and inaccessible places; 

 and when afraid of her retreat being discovered, 

 endeavours, it is said, to hide her track by brushing 

 the ground with her tail. When much disturbed 



