212 
LION. 
Tower; and consequently the time of their gesta- 
tion, the number they bring forth, and the time 
they take to come to perfection, are all very well as- 
certained. The lioness, according to the account 
of her keeper, does not go more than five months 
with young : the young ones, which never exceed 
two in number, are, when brought forth, about the 
size of a large pug dog, harmless, pretty, and play- 
ful ; they continue at the teat for twelve months, 
and the animal is more than five years in coming 
to perfection. Imprisoned within the space of a 
few square feet, and deprived of his natural cli- 
mate, food, exercise, and every thing that can ren- 
der life desirable, his existence is probably very 
much shortened, and no certainty whatever re- 
specting the length of his life in a state of free- 
dom x:an be derived from the captive animal. We 
are told that the great lion called Pompey, who 
died in the year 17^0, was known to have been in 
^he Tower above seventy years ; and one which 
was brought from the river Gambia has since died 
there above sixty-three. If these statements may 
be depended upon, the lion is a very long-lived ani- 
mal, and in his native forests may probably exceed 
the aoe of man himself. 
o 
It is a well known fact, that savage animals be- 
come bold in proportion as we appear to fear them, 
and that a firm and undaunted conduct will some- 
times deter them from attacking us. In proof of 
this assertion, we shall relate the following story 
from Dr. Sparrman: £< A yeoman of credibility, 
