448 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



bred Dog be crossed with a different variety, the conse- 

 quences will be manifested in the offspring for several ge- 

 nerations. 



But this did riot appear to be the case with the cubs bred 

 between the black variety and the Common Leopard ; they 

 were in all respects like the ordinary cubs of parents both 

 of the common breed. 



But to return to our Lion Tiger-cubs. Mr. Atkins, an iti- 

 nerant exhibiter, and dealer himself, bred the Lion, the father 

 of these cubs. He was a very fine and very valuable beast, for 

 his beauty and the docility of his disposition, the ferocity of 

 which had never been entirely developed by natural habits. 

 At the period in question, he was about four years old. 

 The Tigress, the mother of the cubs, is supposed to be 

 about four or five years old. She has been in Mr. Atkins's 

 possession about two years, and was, probably, taken very 

 young, as the gentleness of her disposition seems to evince. 



These two animals, ever since the arrival of the Tigress, 

 have been confined in one den, and have always agreed well 

 together. From the beginning of their being so placed, 

 there had been frequent possibility of issue, though the 

 first, consisting of a litter of three cubs, was not born till the 

 17th of October, 1824, the result of a more particular in- 

 tercourse, which lasted ten or twelve days, in the beginning 

 of the previous July. They were born at Windsor, and 

 were shortly afterwards honoured by a visit from his Ma- 

 jesty. The Lion, unfortunately, died about six weeks 

 afterwards. 



The cubs were taken from the Tigress immediately after 

 birth, and were fostered by several bitches and a Goat ; 

 they are all alive, and promise, at present, to attain ma- 

 turity. 



In regard to their personal appearance, we feel con- 

 strained, after what has been already said, to be very brief 

 in our descriptions, an omission, however, we hope to com- 



