LIONS AND TIGERS 



inviting him to a friendly glass. This is one of the fatal 

 mistakes of the lion king, who, being excited by his success 

 and promptitude to excel, presses too strongly, and with 

 foolhardy determination, to compel the animals he believes 

 he has overawed to do more than usual, and the termin- 

 ation of his performance is partial destruction, very often 

 leading to death. It is not difficult to see and fully under- 

 stand that any animal who has the power, when overflogged 

 or unmercifully chastised, will oftentimes turn upon the 

 tormentor ; and many instances are well known of large 

 dogs, when beaten unfairly by their masters, having tui-ned 

 upon them. Moreover, there are many instances recorded 

 of keepers of hounds, when in a state of intoxication, 

 having been attacked by the pack, the man being so 

 unlike himself (when sober), he being so completely altered 

 they do not recognize him evidently, and they all fall upon 

 him as a stranger. 



The conclusion arrived at is simple enough. That the 

 strength of a man as compared with any of the larger 

 carnivora is infinitesimally small ; and if, therefore, the 

 animal is angered, a hand-to-hand combat must, as it 

 invariably does, mean either death or mutilation to the 

 performer. 



BREEDING LIONS. 



Notice has frequently been called to the fact that lions 

 are so constantly bred and reared in the various travelling 

 menageries under what most persons consider great 

 difficulties and disadvantages. 



It must be borne in mind however that the circum- 

 stances under which they exist are most favourable to 

 them, as they are constantly being roused and moved 

 about from place to place, sometimes with a reduced 



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