38 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



After this observation on the attitudes of lions, the following 

 criticism upon the positions of Sir Edwin Landseer's bronze 

 lions in Trafalgar Square is worth quoting, as coming from one 

 well qualified to judge: — 



" They lay almost exactly in the position of Landseer's lions in 

 Trafalgar Square, and it is quite a mistake to say that that great artist has 

 made an error in representing lions lying with the fore paws straight out 

 like a dog. When on the alert a lion always lies like this, and only bends his 

 paws inwards, like a cat, when resting thoroughly at his ease." — (P. 147). 



On page 32 we have given a figure of the head of the Sable 

 Antelope. The way in which this animal is able to defend 

 itself with its horns, in spite of their backward curvature, is 

 thus graphically described by Mr. Selous : — 



" The foremost dogs soon caught sight of the Sable Antelope, which, 

 badly wounded by Van Rooyen's bnllet, was making off slowly towards 

 the stream which ran down the centre of the open ground. We ran as 

 hard as we could to call the pack off, and despatch the beast before any of 

 our valuable dogs were killed ; for we knew from experience what havoc a 

 wounded Sable Antelope can make amongst a pack with its long and curved 

 horns. Just as we were nearing the water, two of my own dogs came 

 howling up the bank, both badly wounded, and the loud barking of the rest 

 of the pack, coupled with the defiant snorts of the Antelope which 

 proceeded from the bed of the stream, let us know that the brave beast 

 was still making a gallant fight, aud doing his utmost to sell his life 

 dearly. A moment later we despatched him with two bullets through the 

 head and neck, and not a moment too soon. Four of our best dogs lay 

 dead around their quarry ; four more were badly wounded, one of which 

 subsequently died. My old bitch 'Ruby' had one more very narrow 

 escape. She had been struck right through the throat by the sharp horns 

 of the Antelope, though fortunately it had only pierced through between 

 the skin and the windpipe. 



"I have mentioned this instance of the able manner in which a Sable 

 Antelope can use its horns when beset by dogs, to show that these animals 

 are often very savage when wounded, aud I would caution young sportsmen 

 against approaching either a sable or a roan antelope, a gemsbuck, or 

 a wildebeest, when any of these animals are standing at bay." — (Pp. 

 191-192). 



Apropos of Ostriches : — Many persons suppose, and indeed it 

 has been stated on high authority, that the process of incubation 

 is carried on by the male bird only. This is a mistake, as we 



