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CHAPTER III. 
THE LION MONOGAMOUS—HIS GALLANTRY TO HIS MATE—LOVE AND 
GALLANTRY AMONG LIONS—THE LIONESS A JILT—COMBATS OF 
RIVAL SUITORS—THE PAIRING SEASON—PERIOD OF GESTATION— 
THE CUBS—THEIR SIZE, APPEARANCE, AND COLOUR—DISPARITY 
IN THE NUMBER OF THE SEXES—THE YOUNG LION’S APPRENTICE¬ 
SHIP—DEPRIVING THE LIONESS OF HER CUBS. 
npHE lion is monogamous, and by all accounts most 
J- faithful to his mate. “ He never leaves her,” says 
Gerard, “unless from compulsion, and entertains for 
her a most enduring affection. The lion and the 
lioness usually hunt in company. From the moment 
the pair leave their den until their return to it, it is 
always the lioness who proceeds in advance, and 
when it is her pleasure to halt, he halts also. Ar¬ 
riving near the “ douar ” that is to furnish a supper, 
the lioness crouches outside of the fence that pro¬ 
tects it, while her mate bounds bravely over the im¬ 
pediment into the midst of the fold, and after helping 
himself to what he deems best, carries it to his 
better half. He regards her, whilst feeding, with 
infinite pleasure, and keeps guard that no ill may 
