HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 205 



or alarmed, she will sometimes transport her young 

 from one place to another in her mouth ; and if 

 obstructed in her course, will defend them to the 

 last extremity. 



The Lion is a long-lived animal, although natural- 

 ists have differed greatly as to the precise period 

 of its existence. Buffon limits it to twenty, or 

 twenty-two years at most. It is however certain, 

 that it lives much beyond that time. The great 

 Lion called Pompey, which died in the year 1 760, was 

 known to have been in the Tower above seventy 

 years ; and one, brought from the river Gambia, 

 died there not long ago, at the age of sixty-three. 

 Several of these animals have been bred in the 

 Tower: so that the time of their gestation,, the 

 number they produce, and the time of their arriving 

 at perfection, are all pretty well known. 



The flesh of the Lion is said to have a strong 

 disagreeable flavour; yet it is frequently eaten by 

 the negroes. The skin, which was formerly a robe 

 of distinction for heroes, is now made use of by 

 those people as a mantle or a bed. They also 

 preserve the grease, which is of a penetrating 

 nature, and is used in medicine. 



The representation we have given was drawn 

 from a remarkably fine one, exhibited at Newcastle 

 in the year 1788. It was then young, extremely 

 healthful, active, and in full condition. 



