THE LION. 263 



the ground, being considerably shorter than the 

 others *. 



The Lioness is smaller than the Lion, and desti^ 

 tute of a mane. She brings forth in the spring, in 

 the most sequestered places, and produces four or 

 five young at a time. These, on their first appear- 

 ance, are about the size of a small pug Dog ; and 

 they continue at the teat nearly twelve months. 



The strength of the Lion is so prodigious, that a 

 single stroke of his paw is sufficient to break the 

 back of a horse, and one sweep with his tail will throw 

 a strong man to the ground. Kolbensays, that when 

 he comes up to his prey, he always knocks it down 

 dead, and seldom bites it till the mortal blow has 

 been given : this blow he generally accompanies with 

 a terrible roar "f-. 



A Lion was once seen at the Cape to take a Heifer 

 in his mouch ; and though that animal's legs drag- 

 ged on the ground, yet he seemed to carry her off 

 ■with, as much ease as a Cat does a Rat : he likewise 

 leaped over a broad ditch with her, without the least 

 difficulty. A Buffalo, perhaps, would be too cum- 

 bersome for him, notwithstanding his strength, to 

 seize and carry off in the manner above-mentioned. 

 Two yeomen, however, of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 gave Dr. Sparrman the following account on this 

 subject. — r" Being on a hunting party near Boskies- 

 vums-ri-ver with several Hottentots, they perceived a 

 Lion dragging a Buffalo from the plain to a wood 

 upon a neighbouring hill. They, however, soon 



* Memoirs of the Acad, of Scien. at Paris. t Kolben, ii. 9,:;. 



S 4 



