WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
one of the most telling exhibitions that have from time to 
time appeared before the public consists of performing lions 
and their tamers. 
The end of almost the whole of the persons who have 
engaged in these dangerous exhibitions is, that they have 
been maimed for life or killed outright. 
The attempt of the lion Wallace in 1881 to kill the 
under-keeper, and his later attempt, which occurred soon 
afterwards, and in which he nearly succeeded, to kill the 
man Alicamousa, are examples of all former experiences in 
cases of this kind, and may be expected to occur again and 
again so long as this sort of exhibition is permitted to take 
place. There are several reasons for the unexpected and 
sudden display of the brutal ferocity of animals of this 
class. Some of the causes are not known or can be sus- 
pected by the persons engaged in this very hazardous 
pursuit. There are times that certain excitement renders 
animals (that at other times are tame and gentle) almost 
mad with rage. A few similar instances illustrative of this 
subject will at once become apparent to all persons who 
keep pets, or who are acquainted with animals. There are 
few persons who keep dogs that do not know at certain 
times the males surround the house in which a female of 
the species is kept, and the determined perseverance to 
remain in the neighbourhood, in spite of all the thrashing 
they may have received or be threatened with. Now, in 
case of a lion or other powerful carnivorous animal under 
the same circumstances, the creature is beyond all control. 
There is another danger that attends the performance 
that is unforeseen and rarely thought of by the public, and 
still more rarely mentioned by the friends of the man who 
has lost his life ; for it is very natural to find an ordinary 
crowd, delighted at the exhibition of courage and daring, 
wishing not only to shake hands with the lion-tamer, but 
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