142 LIONS AND BUFFALOES. Chap. VII. 



mere stumps, and his claws worn quite blunt ; tlie other was full 

 grown, in the prime of life, with white perfect teeth ; both were 

 entirely destitute of mane. The lions, in the country near the 

 lake, give tongue less than those further south. We scarcely 

 ever heard them roar at all. 



The lion has other checks on inordinate increase besides man. 

 He seldom attacks full-grown animals ; but frequently, when a 

 buffalo calf is caught by linn, the cow rushes to the rescue, and a 

 toss from her often kills him. One we found was killed thus ; 

 and on the Leeambye another, winch died near Sesheke, had all 

 the appearance of having received Ins death-blow from a buffalo. 

 It is questionable if a single lion ever attacks a full-grown buffalo. 

 The amount of roaring heard at night, on occasions when a buffalo 

 is killed, seems to indicate there are always more than one Hon 

 engaged in the onslaught. 



On the plain, south of Sebituane's ford, a herd of buffaloes 

 kept a number of lions from then young by the males turning 

 then heads to the enemy. The young and the cows were in the 

 rear. One toss from a bull would loll the strongest Hon that 

 ever breathed. I have been informed that in one part of India 

 even the tame buffaloes feel then superiority to some wild ani- 

 mals, for they have been seen to chase a tiger up the hills, bel- 

 lowing as if they enjoyed the sport. Lions never go near any 

 elephants except the calves, winch, when young, are sometimes 

 torn by them ; every living tiling retires before the lordly ele- 

 phant, yet a full-grown one would be an easier prey than the 

 rhinoceros ; the lion rashes off at the mere sight of tins latter 

 beast. 



In the country adjacent to Mashue great numbers of different 

 kinds of mice exist. The ground is often so undermined with 

 then burrows, that the foot sinks in at every step. Little hay- 

 cocks, about two feet high, and rather more than that in breadth, 

 are made by one variety of these little creatures. The same 

 tiling is done in regions annuaUy covered with snow for obvious 

 purposes, but it is difficult here to divine the reason of the hay- 

 making hi the climate of Africa.* 



* Euryotis unitmlcatus (F. Cuvier), Mus pumelio (Spar.), and Mus lehocla 

 (Smith), all possess tliis habit in a greater or less degree. The first-named 

 may be seen escaping danger with its young hanging to the after-part of its body. 



