*HE LION. l6g 



to be his favourite prey ; but on the Sheep, which 

 perhaps he is too indolent to uncase from its woolly- 

 covering, he seldom deigns to fix his paw *. 



Where the Lion has become acquainted with hu- 

 man power, and experienced Man's superiority, his 

 courage has been so lost that he has been scared away 

 even with a shout. In a tame state (but it is scarcely 

 fair to draw any general inference from this) we 

 have an instance of a Lion being overcome by a 

 Goat. Mr. Bruce, director and commander-general 

 of the Senegal company on the African coast, had 

 near him a large full-grown tame Lion, four years 

 old, when a flock of Goats was brought that had been 

 just purchased. The sight of this tremendous ani- 

 mal so frightened them, that all, except one, ran off. 

 This, however, looking stedfastly at the Lion, stamp- 

 ed with his foot upon the ground in a menacing at- 

 titude, then retreated three steps, and instantly re- 

 turning, struck the Lion's forehead so violently, with 

 his horns, that the animal was stunned by the blow. 

 The Goat repeated this several times before the 

 Lion could recover himself ; and the huge poltroon 

 was thrown into such confusion, that he was obliged 

 to conceal himself behind his master -j-. 



If we did not know somewhat of the natural dispo- 

 sition of this stately animal, \vc should feel a great 

 degree of terror in seeing the keepers of wild beasts 

 play with him, pull out his tongue, and even chas- 



* Barrow's Travels in Africa, 393. f A'-tley's Collection of 



Voyages, ii. 312. 



