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THE AFRICAN LION IN ITS NATIVE HAUNTS. 
BY JULES GERARD (THE “ LION KILLER"). 
Translated by the Editor. 
T HE title of this Journal has induced me to lay before its 
readers a few observations on an interesting subject in 
natural history, the treatment of which might perhaps be 
deemed too popular for any of the scientific periodicals which 
have higher pretensions than it puts forth to erudition and ab- 
struse investigations ; and I trust that these remarks may be 
the means of calling more general attention to the history of 
that noblest of creatures, the Lion, than it has hitherto enjoyed 
in this country. 
My observations possess, at least, one advantage, — not an 
unimportant one in these book-making days, — namely, that of 
originality : for they are not merely a narrative of what others 
have seen, or a repetition of what my predecessors have written, 
but are the results of my own personal experience. My know- 
ledge of the lion’s natural history has been acquired in those 
wilds of which he is the sovereign ruler. I have met him face 
to face as he approached the encampments of the unfortunate 
Arabs in search of his nightly meal, have tracked him to his 
lair on his return from his depredations. 
These adventures I have described elsewhere, in a form more 
suitable for the general reader ;* but it is now my intention, as 
far as the limited space allotted to me will admit, to recall a 
little of the more solid information which I have obtained during 
my hazardous expeditions, for the benefit of those who read 
rather for instruction than for amusement. 
Let me first mention, that the result of my observations has 
led me to conclude that the race of lions inhabiting the northern 
portions of the continent of Africa is superior to those which are 
met with in the western and central parts of that continent. 
Whether this superiority be inherent,— that is to say, an ori- 
ginal quality of the animal, — or whether it is due to the con- 
ditions by which the creature is surrounded, I shall not venture 
to say; but shall be content to substantiate the truth of this 
assertion by illustrations of its superiority, leaving it to the con- 
sideration of better-informed naturalists to fathom the cause. 
* “ Le Tueur de Lions.” Paris : J. Vermot. 
