348 MAMMALIA. 



that, ao-ainst its own inclinations, it leaves a prey that it deems too 

 easily obtained, siisijecting it to be a bait. Sometimes this con- 

 jecture proves false, and the Man or animal whose unlucky star 

 has placed him or it without defence in the path of the Lion, 

 thus miraculously escapes its formidable jaws. The following is 

 an example : — A colonist at the Cape of Good Hope suddenly 

 came upon a Lion, and was so frightened at its appearance 

 that he fell down from fear. Surprised at such a result, the 

 Lion carefully inspected the whole vicinity without seeing anj' 

 one. Still fearing some ambush, it quietly retired, without 

 touching the Man, whom fear had rendered incapable of action. 



The roaring of the Lion has alwaj^s been admired. When 

 heard within a distance of a mile or two during the silence of the 

 night, it awes all living creatures. When this great voice echoes 

 over the plain, the cattle tremble in the farms, and follow with 

 anxiety its various modidations in order to inform themselves of 

 the direction in which the enemy is aj^proaching. If the Lion 

 comes to prowl around the enclosure in which the}' are sheltered, 

 they exhibit sj-mptoms of the most intense fear. Their sense of 

 smell alone suffices to indicate, even at a considerable distance, 

 the dreaded j^resence. 



Livingstone makes some remarks on the voice of the king of 

 beasts, which are singularly oiDposed to the opinions of the 

 majoritj' of authors who have spoken of that animal. He asserts 

 that the roaring of the Lion resembles, and maj' be mistaken 

 for, the cry of the Ostrich. The voice of the Ostrich, he says, 

 is as loud as that of the Lion, and it has never frightened any- 

 body. He declares he has consulted several Europeans on this 

 subject, who were acquainted with both cries, and all replied 

 that there was not the slightest difference. The natives (he 

 further states) are very often deceived, and it is not until after 

 the first notes are uttered, and bj' paying great attention, it 

 becomes possible to distinguish the voice of the Cajnivore from 

 that of the Bird. 



Livingstone thinks that, in general, the crj' of the Ostrich is 

 not so deep as the Lion's roar ; but, he adds, I have not been 

 able, up to the present time, to distinguish with certainty between 

 them, because thej' are only heard, the one during the nio-ht, and 

 the other during the day. Perhaps the Lion of the Atlas has a 



