(2i-y§ THE LION. 



with a more regular proportion of limbs, the hair 

 assumed nearly the colour of that of the old ani- 

 mals. It was in October, 1800, that these whelps 

 were littered. When they were some months old, 

 they became very mischievous, and one in parti- 

 cular exhibited unpleasant signs of ferocity. The 

 keeper one day, against the aninial's inclination, 

 compelled him to go into the garden of the Mu- 

 seum ; when he sprang at the man with so much 

 violence, as to tear the sleeve of his coat. Two of 

 these young Lions have fallen victims to the first 

 efi'ccts of dentition, a period very dangerous to the 

 young of all savage animals that are produced in a 

 state of confinement. 



The Lions in the Museum begin to roar at day- 

 break, and the females follow their example. They 

 continue this noise for six or seven minutes ; and re- 

 commence it after feeding, for about the same length 

 of time. At other times they are seldom heard ; 

 except to announce some change of weather, or 

 when their keeper hr.s been long absent. — In a state 

 of nature, the Lion seldom leaves his den except dur- 

 ing the night ; but in the Museum the animals, be- 

 ing shaded from the too glaring light of the sun, are, 

 on the contrary, always most active in the day. 



In the den adjoining to that in which the above- 

 mentioned Lioness is placed, there is another fe- 

 male, wliich was caught in the interior of Africa, 

 at a much greater distance from the habitations of 

 men than the places from whence any others in the 

 Museum were brought. Accordino- to the account 

 of Felix Cassel, the principal keeper, who trav^elled 



