LION. 



367 



many cubs appear to die wliile still very j'ouug. Lions breed freely in captivity, 

 but not so readily in some menageries as in others. Thus, whereas iu the London 

 Zoological Gardens the number of cubs bred and reared is comparatively small, in 

 those at Dublin it is very large ; and many of the lions exhibited in various 

 menageries have been reared at the latter establishment. It is a curious fact that 

 lion cubs are bom with their eyes fully open. 



THE 5IAXELES3 LIOX FROM SEXEGAL (^ nat sizej. 



When caught young, lions are easily tamed, and the whole disposition of the 

 animal in captivity is much more gentle tlian is that of the tiger. 



That adult lions will combine to attack large animals that they would hnd it 

 difficult or impossible to ovei'come unaided, is now well ascertained. The best 

 kno-WTi instance is one observed by Major Vardon and Mr. Oswell in South Africa, 

 when three full-grown males united their efforts in endeavouring to pull down an 

 old buffalo. When first observed the four animals were engaged in a terrific 

 combat, the final issue of which mijrht have been doubtful, had it not been termin- 

 ated by the sudden death of the buffalo from the effects of a bullet-wound it had 

 previously received from the rifle of one of the witnesses. No sooner, however, did 



