THE DUBLIN LIONS. 
By Prorrssor D. J. CUNNINGHAM, F.R.S. 
ORK more than half a century the Dublin Zoo has been famed for its lions. About 
230 cubs have been born in the lion-house, and these have been scattered all 
over the world and realised by their sale more than £5,000. Recently an interesting 
experiment has been tried. It is now well known that the distribution of the lion in 
prehistoric times was much wider than it is at present. In those early times the 
lion roamed over the greater part of Europe and was common in some parts of 
England—more particularly in Somersetshire. It is clear, therefore, that at that period 
it must have been capable of thriving in districts which possessed very different climatic 
conditions ; indeed, even in Africa at the present day, the variations of temperature 
which it has to endure are very great indeed. Arguing from these facts it occurred 
to the Council of the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland that by keeping their lions 
mm carefully-heated houses they might be pampering them unnecessarily, and they 
consequently resolved to place a pair in the open air and keep them there both day 
and night. 
Sates Su MASE SAG S » SSS 
Photograph by G. EL. Low, Kingstown, 
JUST WOKE UP. 
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