168 
AFFECTION TO- 
WARDS THEIR 
YOUNG. 
CONFLICTS. 
CAUSES OF THEMe 
U R-S“DN> Bie SBA Ly 
The males fhew great affection towards their young, and equal 
tyranny towards the females. The former are fierce in the protec- 
tion of their offspring; and fhould any one attempt to take their 
cub, will ftand on the defenfive, while the female carries it away in 
her mouth. Should fhe happen to drop it, the male inftantly quits its 
enemy, falls on her, and beats her againft the ftones till he leaves 
her for dead. As foon as fhe recovers, fhe crawls to his feet in the 
moft fuppliant manner, and wafhes them with her tears; he at the fame 
time brutally infults her mifery, ftalking about in the moft infolent 
manner. But if the young is entirely carried off, he melts into the 
greateft affliction, likewife fheds tears, and fhews every mark of deep 
forrow. It is probable that as the female brings only one, or at moft 
two cubs, he feels his misfortune the more fenfibly. 
Thofe animals which are deftitute of females, through age or im- 
potence, or are deferted by them, withdraw themfelves from fociety, 
and grow exceffively fplenetic, peevifh, and quarrelfome; are very 
furious, and, fo attached to their antient ftations, as to prefer death 
to the lofs of them. They are enormoufly fat, and emit a moft 
naufeous and rank fmell. If they perceive another animal approach 
its feat, they are in{tantly roufed from their indolence, fnap at the 
encroacher, and give battle. During the fight they infenfibly in- 
trude on the ftation of their neighbor. ‘This creates new offence; fo 
that at length the civil difcord fpreads through the whole fhore, at- 
tended with hideous growls, their note of war. They are very 
tenacious of life, and will live a fortnight after receiving fuch 
wounds as would foon deftroy any other animal. 
The particular caufes of difputes among thefe irafcible beafts are 
the following :—The firft and greateft is, when an attempt is made to 
feduce any of their miftreffes, or a young female of the family: a 
battle is the immediate confequence of the infult. The unhappy 
vanquifhed inftantly lofes his whole feraglio, who defert him for the 
victorious hero, 
The 
