ORDER OF CARNIVORA. 
357 
bestrode. It is scarcely necessary to say that the creature charged 
with such a load cared much less about the honour than its master 
did, and that more than once my companion was ignominiously 
and hurriedly dismounted. 
“ To give an idea of the size of this Lion, I will mention the 
following fact : — 
“ General Bedeau, who was passing through Guelma at the 
time when I arrived, expressed a desire to see its skin. I hastened 
to select from among the troops one of the strongest men to carry 
it into the presence of my superior. Scarcely had this load been 
placed on the spahi’s shoulders than he sank beneath its weight ; 
and, for want of more suitable means, a stable wheel-barrow 
ultimately had to be employed for the purpose. 
“ Lakdar returned to look at it in the evening. Next day he 
was there again to have a last glance ere it was carried away by 
the purchaser. 
“ Comparing this one with the finest Lions I have seen in 
menageries or in the Jardin des Plants, it was as a Horse to 
an Ass ”* 
The celebrated Lion-killer perished in 1866 ; but not beneath 
the claws of one of the race he had so often caused to bite the 
dust. He met an accidental and obscure death while crossing a 
river, during an excursion which had not even Lion-hunting for 
its object. 
We will terminate this brief history of the king of animals, by 
noticing the efforts which have been sometimes made to subdue 
his carnivorous instincts. 
A false idea is generally entertained with regard to these great 
carnivorous animals. It is looked upon as an almost superhuman 
task to overcome their ferocity, and to tame them. From this 
supposition arises the admiration of the crowd for those people 
who enter Lions’ cages. Such exhibitions, however, have nothing 
astonishing in them when we know that the Lion, far from being 
incapable of training, readily submits to it. Frequent examples 
of this have occurred in the various zoological establishments 
in Europe. 
* From the great improvements in gunnery, the danger of shooting large game has 
much decreased : I am assured by Mr. J. D. Dougall, the celebrated rifle manu- 
facturer, that of late years it is not uncommon to kill a Tiger or Lion at the first 
fire.— E d. 
