FELLS. 
case and frequently swallows them ; and the 
reversed prickles on his tongue are of ex- 
traordinary strength and extension. After 
a full repast, he returns to his den and 
enjoys a state of slumber and repose, till 
the calls of hunger rouse him to fresh acti- 
vity, and impel him to recommence the 
work of blood. The lion, in the exertion 
of his full energies, must present one of the 
most impressive images that can be con- 
ceived. The general majesty of his coun- 
tenance, surrounded by his full mane in- 
tensely erected, and lighted up by the 
glaring indignation of his eye, connected 
with the thunder of his voice, and all the 
apparatus of destruction in his mouth and 
paws, has in every age, caused him to be 
considered as furnishing admirable mate- 
rials for sublime and terrific imagery. 
At the Cape of Good Hope, it is by no 
means uncommon to hunt the lion, and in 
an open and spacious plain, in which he 
finds it impossible to escape his pursuers 
by flight, he checks his progress, and fronts 
his adversaries awaiting their attack. Se- 
veral of the dogs which first dare to assault 
him, generally fall under his stroke, but in 
a few moments he is overwhelmed by num- 
bers, and literally torn to pieces. The 
negroes of the Cape are reported to eat his 
flesh; and his skin, which was formerly 
deemed a mantle for a hero, is now more 
frequently employed for the bed of a Hot- 
tentot. 
It is imagined that lions are inexpres- 
sibly less numerous in Africa now than 
formerly, and it is staled by Shaw, that 
all Libya could at this time scarcely supply 
that number, which was sometimes ex- 
ported to Rome, even in a single year. In 
proportion as population has extended, 
and national intercourse has advanced, their 
range has necessarily become more limited, 
and their acquaintance with man seems to 
have considerably checked that daring, 
which was supposed by many incapable of 
being daunted. The lion’s valour dimi- 
nishes in proportion as he resides near the 
habitations of men, whose ingenuity and 
resources he seems well aware must always 
secure them a superiority in the conflict 
with other animals, and whose appearance, 
therefore, he shuns as that of his most for- 
midable adversary. In the neighbourhood 
of the small towns of Africa, even women 
and children have not unfrequently driven 
lions from their lurking places. When taken 
young, they can be taught to sustain con- 
finement without difficulty, and will not 
only manifest tranquillity and contentment, 
but occasionally engage in sports and gam- 
bols with smaller animals, among which 
they have been led to associate. They are 
susceptible of attachment and gratitude, 
will caress their keepers, display a magna- 
nimous forbearance with respect to the of- 
fensive freedom and petulant insults of 
weaker creatures, and after having once, 
as it were, pledged themselves for the se- 
curity of any which, by an act of wanton- 
ness, may have been thrown as victims into 
their den, will endure extreme hunger be- 
fore they can permit themselves to destroy 
them. The natural excitability of these 
animals, however, is so great, that all the 
discipline of education is frequently insuf- 
ficient effectually to repress their passions 
within secure limits, and in some unlucky 
coincidence of circumstances, those fami- 
liarities with them which had been per- 
mitted without the slightest resistance, or 
reluctance, have proved fatal to the per- 
sons who engaged in them. Though the 
lion frequently attacks his prey in open 
chase, he generally adopts the system of 
ambuscade, and will lurk on his belly in 
some thicket, frequently near the water, 
awaiting the approach of any animal which 
its evil destiny may impel near it, on which 
he will spring with a sudden bound, rarely 
failing of success, and sometimes reaching 
to the distance of twenty feet. When this 
leap is unsuccessful, the object is permitted 
to escape without pursuit, and he retraces 
his steps slow'ly to the thicket, as it were 
abashed by his failure, and anticipating the 
consequences of greater adroitness in his 
ensuing effort. 
Lions have in various countries been em- 
ployed as emblems of state, and insignia 
of sovereignty. In Persia, two large lions 
with fetters of gold are stationed on days 
of peculiar ceremony and splendour, on 
each side of the hall of audience ; and in 
Rome, Anthony was drawn through the 
streets by lions harnessed to his chariot. 
To furnish entertainment for the inhabi- 
tants of that splendid and luxurious city, 
lions were conveyed in vast numbers from 
the interior of Africa, to exhibit at the pub- 
lic festivals, at which they fought with each 
other, with other animals, and even at 
length with men. This diversion was first 
exhibited by Quintus Scaevola, but was af- 
terwards carried to far greater extent. 
Sylla displayed in the Arena, a hundred 
lions during his pretorship. Julius Caesar, 
to conciliate the people, entertained them 
