WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



one of the most telling exhibitions that have from time to 

 time appeared before the public consists of performing lions 

 and their tamers. 



The end of almost the whole of the persons who have 

 engaged in these dangerous exhibitions is, that they have 

 been maimed for life or killed outright. 



The attempt of the lion Wallace in 1881 to kill the 

 under-keeper, and his later attempt, which occurred soon 

 afterwards, and in which he nearly succeeded, to kill the 

 man Alicamousa, are examples of all former experiences in 

 cases of this kind, and may be expected to occur again and 

 again so long as this sort of exhibition is permitted to take 

 place. There are several reasons for the unexpected and 

 sudden display of the brutal ferocity of animals of this 

 class. Some of the causes are not known or can be sus- 

 pected by the persons engaged in this very hazardous 

 pursuit. There are times that certain excitement renders 

 animals (that at other times are tame and gentle) almost 

 mad with rage. A few similar instances illustrative of this 

 subject will at once become apparent to all persons who 

 keep pets, or who are acquainted with animals. There are 

 few persons who keep dogs that do not know at certain 

 times the males surround the house in which a female of 

 the species is kept, and the determined perseverance to 

 remain in the neighbourhood, in spite of all the thrashing 

 they may have received or be threatened with. Now, in 

 case of a lion or other powerful carnivorous animal under 

 the same circumstances, the creature is beyond all control. 



There is another danger that attends the performance 

 that is unforeseen and rarely thought of by the public, and 

 still more rarely mentioned by the friends of the man who 

 has lost his life ; for it is very natural to find an ordinary 

 crowd, delighted at the exhibition of courage and daring, 

 wishing not only to shake hands with the lion-tamer, but 



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