2 THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



from a Barbary lion and a Senegal lioness ; and the tigress, their dam, was bred in the Marquess 

 of Hastings' collection of tigers in Calcutta, when he was Governor-General of India. 



It appears now, from this preliminary statement, that neither the sire nor the dam was bred in their 

 savage state ; and how far that circumstance may have contributed to diminish their natural hostility 

 to each other is a problem not easy of solution ; some valid grounds of inference, however, exist, that 

 it might possess some remote influence in facilitating their union, on the principle, that in proportion 

 as an animal, either by education or constraint, digresses from its natural state, it assumes fresh habits, 

 and many of those animosities appear to be modified, which were its distinguishing characteristics in 

 its state of nature. We shall have occasion to enlarge on this topic when we come to treat of the 

 natural history of the different races of lions, which are now in the private and public menageries 

 of this country ; for, virtually speaking, the lion of Mr. Atkins is, in every respect, an English animal, 

 and, therefore, cannot be supposed to be characterized by all those ferocious traits, which distinguish 

 the untamed monarch of the woods. The tigress stands nearly in the same relation ; it has never 

 associated with its fellows but in a state of domestication, and where the continual power of human 

 control has softened those asperities of temper, which are always displayed in a state of savage nature. 



Mr. Atkins proceeds to state that he purchased the tigress of the captain to whom the Marquess of 

 Hastings had presented her, at which time she was eighteen months old ; and the young lion being then 

 about the same age, Mr. Atkins conceived the idea of confining them in the same den ; not, as he con- 

 fesses, from any hope of their ever breeding ; for he considered that event as scarcely within the range 

 of possibility. However, after a considerable deal of trouble and anxiety, he at last succeeded in 

 effecting the union, and the animals continued to live amicably during a period of two years ; when, 

 to his great joy, he discovered that the tigress was with young, and on Wednesday, October the 27th, 

 1824, she cubbed at Windsor, bringing forth two males and one female : this extraordinary circum- 

 stance having been mentioned by the Marquess of Conyngham to his Majesty, the King commanded 

 that the animals should be brought for his inspection to the Royal Cottage, Windsor Park. Mr. Atkins 

 immediately obeyed the command, on the 1st of November ; taking with him also the terrier bitch 

 ■which acted in the capacity of wet nurse to the heterogeneous brood, as the tigress had not evinced 

 any disposition to perform the part of a mother to her family. His Majesty expressed himself highly 

 pleased with this novel exhibition, and asked an infinite number of questions respecting them. After 

 a minute and protracted inspection of this singular addition to the wonders of the animal kingdom, 

 his Majesty gave the name of Liox-Tjgees to the cubs : which name has been transmitted to the 

 present progeny, as Mr. Atkins was not fortunate enough to rear any of the first litter, they all dying 

 ■when about a year old. 



The second accouchement of the tigress took place on Clapham Common, April 22d, 1825, but the 

 produce lived a very short time, although in this instance, as well as in the subsequent ones, the 

 tigress took to her young, and suckled them with the greatest fondness imaginable. 



The third litter was brought forth at Edinburg, December 31st, 1S26, consisting of one male and 

 two females ; the former of which died, but the females are still alive, and in perfect health. In form 

 they resemble the lioness, but they have the stripes of the tigress, although not so marked nor dark. 



The fourth and last litter was produced at Windsor, October 28th, 182S, consisting of one male 

 and two females; they were all living as late as March 5th, 1829, in perfect health, and Mr. Atkins 

 expresses his anxious hope to rear the male, as he is desirous to know if he will so far partake of the 

 character of his sire as to have a fine and flowing mane. 



It is rather a singular coincidence that the last litter was produced exactly four years after the first. 



