Chap. VII. HABITS OF THE LION. 93 



bitten before he could climb a tree ; and occasionally a man 

 on horseback has been caught by the leg under the same 

 circumstances. 



When a lion is very hungry, and lying in wait, the sight of 

 an animal may excite him to go after it. A hunter who was 

 stealthily crawling towards a rhinoceros happened to glance 

 behind him, and found to his horror a lion stalking him. lie 

 only escaped by springing up a tree like a cat. At Lopepc a 

 lioness sprang on the after quarter of Mr. Oswell's horse, 

 which started away, and the rider, caught by a wait-a-bit thorn, 

 was dragged to the ground and rendered insensible. His dogs 

 saved him. The lion has a characteristic which he seems to 

 possess in common with the rest of the feline species, that any 

 appearance of a trap brings him to a stand. When a goat is 

 picketed in India on a plain as a bait for a tiger, the latter whips 

 off the animal so quickly that no one can take aim. A small pit 

 is therefore dug, and the goat is tied to a stake at the bottom. 

 This renders the tiger suspicions, and he walks round and round 

 the pit, which allows the hunter, who is lying in wait, to have 

 a fair shot. The lion is equally cautious ; one sprang at Captain 

 Codrington, who shot him dead in the neck. A horse ran awa} T , 

 and was stopped by the bridle catching a stump. He remained 

 a prisoner two days, and Captain Codrington found the wmole 

 space around marked by the footprints of lions. They had been 

 afraid to attack the haltered horse, from the apprehension that 

 it was a trap. A couple came by night to within three yards of 

 the place w T here the oxen were tied to a waggon, and a sheep 

 to a tree. They stood roaring, but were afraid to make a spring. 

 On another occasion three of our party wore lying sound asleep, 

 when a lion approached within a yard or two and began to roar. 

 The fact that their riding-ox was fastened to the bush deprived 

 him of the courage to seize his prey. He retired to a knoll 

 three hundred yards distant, where he roared all night, and 

 continued growling as the men moved off next morning. 



Nothing that I ever learned of the lion would lead me to 

 attribute to it either the ferocious or noble character ascribed 

 to it elsewhere. He chiefly preys upon defenceless creatures ; 

 and frequently, when a buffalo calf is caught by him, the cow 

 rushes to the rescue, and a toss from her often kills him. On 

 the plain, south of Sebituane's ford, a herd of these animaJs 



