WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
much like the head of a lioness, and the eyes very full 
and prominent (quite unlike our Hat-eyed seals). The 
animal stands on all-fours, the hind feet, which are very 
long, being under the belly, and the front legs resting on 
the wrist with the feet turned outwards on each side. 
These latter feet are also very long, and with their aid it 
jumps and bounds along at a great rate of speed, reminding 
one of a weasel or polecat ; in this manner it progresses 
as fast, or nearly so, as a man can run. It climbs over 
chairs and other obstacles with great ease, ascends a 
raised platform upwards of 5 ft. high, and, at the word 
of command, pulls a trigger with its mouth and fires off a 
cannon. It roars or growls very much like a lioness, but 
less loudly, and exhibits great attachment for its keeper, 
but otherwise appears fierce to strangers. It rears itself 
perfectly upright against the keeper, clasps him round 
the neck with its front flippers and places its mouth to 
his lips. 
In this position it appears about 6 ft. high, and it 
certainly has more intelligence than any of the Felidm. 
If the keeper throws his cap across the room, the animal 
runs immediately after it, and returns with the cap in 
its mouth as readily as a well-trained dog. The colour 
of this animal is a rich brown ; the ears are narrow, and 
about I in. in length ; the nose is naked like that of a 
dog, but the nostrils are capable of being closed; the 
whiskers are long and curved downwards ; the tail shorter ; 
the hind feet have nearly straight claws, the fore feet 
have only rudiments of the claws visible ; the teeth are 
very dark in colour, and look like the teeth of a very old 
animal. 
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