THE LION. 
73 
are exceptions: so many came about oar half-deserted 
housos at Chonuano while wo wore in the act of removing 
to Kolobeng, that the natives who remained with Mrs. 
Livingstono woro terrifiod to stir out of doors in tho even- 
ing. Bitches, also, havo boon known to bo guilty of the 
horridly unnatural act of oating their own young, probably 
from tho great desire for animal food, which is experienced 
by the inhabitants as well. 
When a lion is met in tho daytime, a circumstanco by no 
moans unfrequont to travellers in theso parts, if precon- 
ceived notions do not lead them to expect something very 
“noblo” or “majestic,” thoy will seo merely an animal 
somewhat larger than tho biggest dog they ever saw, and 
partaking vory strongly of the canine features : tho faco is 
not much like tho usual drawings of a lion, tho nose being 
prolonged liko a dog’s ; not exactly such as our painters 
mak e it, — though thoy might learn bettor at the Zoologica. 
Gardens, — their ideas of majesty being usually shown by 
making their lions’ faces like old women in nightcaps. 
When encountered in tho daytimo, the lion stands a second 
or two, gazing, then turns slowly round, and walks as 
slowly away for a dozen paces, looking over his shoulder, 
then begins to trot, and, when ho thinks himself out of 
sight, bounds off like a greyhound. By day there is not, 
as a rulo, the smallost danger of lions which are not 
molested attacking man, nor oven on a clear moonlight 
night, except when they possess tho breedingaro^, (natural 
affection :) this makes them bravo almost any danger; and 
if a man happens to cross to tho windward of thorn, both 
lion and lioness will rush at him, in the manner of a bitch 
With whelps. This does not often happen, as I only became 
awaro of two or three instances of it. In ono case a man, 
passing whore the wind blow from him to tho animals, wai 
bitten beforo ho could climb a tree; and occasionally a man 
on horseback has been caught by the leg under tho same 
circumstances. So general, however, is the sense of security 
on moonlight nights, that we seldom tied up our oxen, but 
