tli at lie exerts his greatest ravages, and reigns superior a- 
mong the weaker quadrupeds. Like the tiger, he frequent- 
ly conceals himself iu order to spring upon his prey, 
bounding to the distance of a great many feet, and seizing* 
it with his claws ; his strength is prodigious ; it has even 
been affirmed, that a single stroke of his paw is suffi- 
cient to break the back of a horse, and that he carries off 
with ease a middle-sized ox or buffalo, and that one sweep 
of his tail will throw a strong man to the ground. The 
roaring of the lion, when in quest of prey, resembles the 
sound of distant thunder, and being re-echoed by the rocks 
and mountains, appals the whole race of animals, and puts 
them to sudden flight ; he is commonly said to devour as 
much as will serve him for two or three days, and when 
satiated with food, to remain retired in his den, which he 
seldom leaves, except for the purpose of seeking his prey. 
The lion, says Buffon, when taken young, and brought up 
among domestic animals, is easily accustomed to live, and 
even to sport innocently with them ; he is gentle and ca- 
ressing to his master, and if he sometimes resumes his na- 
tural ferocity, he seldom turns his rage against his bene- 
factors. The anger of this animal is noble, his courage 
magnanimous, and his disposition grateful ; he has been 
often seen to despise contemptible enemies, and pardon 
their insults, when it was in his power to have punished 
them ; he has been known to spare the lives of such as 
were thrown to be devoured by him, to live peaceably 
with them, to afford them part of his subsistence, and 
sometimes even to want food himself, rather than deprive 
them of that life which his generosity had spared. . 
