THE LION. 2/5 



shewed only his face between the bars : the Lion, 

 in a moment, made a bound, leaped against the 

 bars, patted him with its paws, licked his hands and 

 face, and trembled with pleasure. The female also 

 ran to him : but the Lion drove her back ; and 

 seemed angry ; and, fearful that she should snatch 

 any favours from Felix, a quarrel was about to take 

 place, but Felix entered the cage to pacify tb.em. 

 He caressed them by turns ; and was afterwards 

 frequently seen between them. He had so great 

 a command over them, that whenever he Vvished 

 them to separate and retire to their cages, he had 

 only to give the order : when he had a desire 

 that they should lie down, and shew strangers their 

 paws or throats, on tlie least sign they would lie on 

 their backs, hold up their paws one after another, 

 open their throats, and, as a recompence, obtain the 

 favour of lick i no; his hand. These animals were of 

 a strong breed ; and at the time above-mentioned, 

 were iive years and a half old *. 



We are assured, from numberless aulhorhies, that 

 the anger of this animal is noble, his covir-ige mag- 

 nanimous, and his disposition grateful. Re has 

 been often seen to despise contemptible enemies, and 

 pardon their insults when it was in his power to hove 

 punished them. He has been known to spare the 

 lives of such creatures as were thrown to be deyoured 

 by him, to live peaceably with them, to afford them 

 part of his subsistence, and sometimes even to. want 

 food himself rather than deprive iLem of that life 



* TillocV.'s Phil. Ma^j 

 T2 



