The Cannibal Habit in the Male 37 



In the autobiography of Faimali, the great lion- 

 tamer, we learn that the lioness must be allowed to bring 

 forth her young in total darkness, and if within nine or 

 ten days light be admitted to the cage the fierce mother 

 at once devours her own cubs. Boys know this danger 

 in regard to rabbits in the first fortnight. The limit of 

 time in which light is excluded must coincide with that 

 during which there is danger to the cubs from the 

 male. We see in this the beneficence of nature. A 

 great work of elimination is required, therefore the 

 appetite of the male is excited by some odour from the 

 callow offspring. This passes off after a few days, as 

 partial elimination and not extermination is what is 

 intended. Then the mother goes forth to seek her 

 mate and install him as protector and provider. 

 Faimali's account recalls an incident in his father's 

 house when he was a child. The family possessed a 

 cat, a great favourite on account of its gentleness ; it 

 was nursing a litter of kittens in an outhouse, when, 

 to everyone's horror, it appeared one day its jaws 

 dripping with blood — that of its own offspring. A 

 large tom-cat had found its way into the outhouse, and 

 she, seeing their doom could not be averted, had 

 shared in the feast with the intruder. 



Faimali's statement as to the effect of light in the 

 lair is full of significance and suggestion as to what 

 takes place in the haunts of the carnivora. The lioness 

 steals away from her mate, most likely when he sleeps, 

 reaches her den or cave, makes her lair in the deep 

 darkness, and brings forth her whelps. She lies in 

 dread of her wandering lord ; the darkness alone 

 imparts security ; whenever this is broken instinct 

 impels her at once to devour them ; when the danger- 

 ous period is successfully passed she goes forth to find 

 the male and install him as protector. 



When he got thus far in his investigation he deter- 



