THE LION. 27Q 



into Africa to collect animals, she came from the bor- 

 ders of the Great Desert. iShe is ferocious in the ex- 

 treme, and all the care and attentions of the keepers 

 have not hitherto in the least degree softened her na- 

 tural disposition. This circumstance seems to confirnx 

 the opinion of Buffon and some other naturalists; who 

 assert, that tlie Lions possess greater strength and 

 ferocity as they are removed from the haunts of 

 Man, and that the most formidable character is to be 

 expected in those that frequent only the burning and 

 sandy deserts of the interior of Asia and Africa, 



The Lion which is figured in " La Menagerie du 

 Museum National," is an uncommonly beautiful 

 anim.al ; and was caught seven years ago, between 

 Constantine and Bonne, in the dominions of the 

 Dey of Algiers, after a chace of three days. It 

 was then only a-year old, but all its teeth were found 

 perfect. The mane did not appear till two years and 

 a half afterwards. It was presented by the Dey to 

 the French Republic. 



Felix Cassel, the keeper of the Lions, asserts th^t 

 the tradition of these animals beino- terrified at the 

 crowing of a Cock, is very far from being founded 

 in fact. He has known a Lion catch two or three 

 Cocks, and in a few minutes devour them with great 

 eagerness. 



Tavernier mentions, that, in some parts of the 

 East, the inhabitants have a mode of taming Li- 

 ons, which does not seem to be practised in any 

 other part of the world., Four or five of these aniw' 

 inals being brought together, are tied by their hind 

 legs, to stakes, at the distance of twelve yards from 



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