174 MAMMALIA— LION. 



was scarcely perceptible by what means they had been killed. Of the time 

 which we had gained by the interference of the dogs, not a moment was 

 lost ; we fired upon him ; one of the balls went through his side just be- 

 tween the short ribs, and the blood immediately began to flow, but the 

 animal still remained standing in the same position. We had now no 

 doubt that he would spring upon us ; every gun was instantly reloaded ; but 

 happily we were mistaken, and were not sorry to see him move quietly 

 away ; though I had hoped in a few minutes to have been enabled to take 

 hold of his paw without danger. 



" This was considered, by our party, to be a lion of the largest size, and 

 seemed, as I measured him by comparison with the dogs, to be as large 

 as an ox. He was certainly as long in body, though lower in stature; 

 and his copious mane gave him truly a formidable appearance. He was 

 of that variety which the Hottentots and boors distinguish by the name 

 of the black lion, on account of the blacker color of the mane, and which 

 is said to be always larger and more dangerous than the other, which 

 they call the pale lion. Of the courage of a lion I have no very high opinion, 

 but of his majestic air and movements, as exhibited by this animal, while at 

 liberty in his native plains, I can bear testimony. Notwithstanding the 

 pain of a wound, of which he must soon afterwards have died, he moved 

 slowly away with a stately and measured step. 



" The lion, as we have seen, principally lives in the plains, and is always 

 found where there are large herds of wild antelopes and other animals 

 feeding together, in that fellowship which is characteristic of each species. 

 To all these animals he is an object of unceasing dread. It is supposed by 

 the agitation which oxen display when a lion is near them, that they can 

 scent him at a considerable distance. Whatever may be his physical 

 strength, therefore, and we know that it is prodigious, it is evident he could 

 not accomplish his purposes by strength alone. The instinctive fear of the 

 creatures upon which he preys would be constantly called into action, by 

 their keen sight and acute scent ; and they would remove to some distant 

 part before the destroyer could reach them. The lion, too, as well as the 

 tiger, and others of the same species, seldom runs. He either walks, or 

 creeps, or, for a short distance, advances rapidly by great bounds. It is 

 evident, therefore, that he must seize his prey by stealth ; that he is not 

 fitted for an open attack ; and that his character is necessarily that of great 

 power united to considerable wariness in its exercise. 



" Every one, almost, is familiar with the roar of the lion. It is a sound 

 of terror, and produces an appalling effect. It is said by travellers that it 

 sometimes resembles the sound which is heard at the moment of an earth- 

 quake ; and that he produces this extraordinary effect by laying his head 

 upon the ground, and ' uttering a half stifled growl, by which means the 

 noise is conveyed along the earth. The instant this roar is heard by the 

 animals who are reposing in the plains, they start up with alarm ; they fly 



