WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



much like the head of a lioness, and the eyes very full 

 and prominent (quite unlike our flat-eyed seals). The 

 animal stands on all-fours, the hind feet, which are very 

 long, being under the belly, and the front legs resting on 

 the wrist with the feet turned outwards on each side. 

 These latter feet are also very long, and with their aid it 

 jumps and bounds along at a great rate of speed, reminding 

 one of a weasel or polecat ; in this manner it progresses 

 as fast, or nearly so, as a man can run. It climbs over 

 chairs and other obstacles with great ease, ascends a 

 raised platform upwards of 5 ft. high, and, at the word 

 of command, pulls a trigger with its mouth and fires off a 

 cannon. It roars or growls very much like a lioness, but 

 less loudly, and exhibits great attachment for its keeper, 

 but otherwise appears fierce to strangers. It rears itself 

 perfectly upright against the keeper, clasps him round 

 the neck with its front flippers and places its mouth to 

 his lips. 



In this position it appears about 6 ft. high, and it 

 certainly has more intelligence than any of the Felidce. 

 If the keeper throws his cap across the room, the animal 

 runs immediately after it, and returns with the cap in 

 its mouth as readily as a well-trained dog. The colour 

 of this animal is a rich brown ; the ears are narrow, and 

 about 1 in. in length ; the nose is naked like that of a 

 dog, but the nostrils are capable of being closed; the 

 whiskers are long and curved downwards ; the tail shorter ; 

 the hind feet have nearly straight claws, the fore feet 

 have only rudiments of the claws visible ; the teeth are 

 very dark in colour, and look like the teeth of a very old 

 animal. 



160 



