3 68 
CARNIVORES. 
their prey succumb, than the three lions commenced to quarrel among themselves; 
one, reared to half its height, resting its paws upon the middle of the carcase, while 
the other two respectively placed themselves at the head and tail, and growled 
forth defiance at the one in the middle. What might have been the result of the 
dispute can only be imagined, as two of the lions were shot, while the third, 
thinking discretion the better part of valour, prudently retired. 
Another instance of a somewhat similar encounter is related by Sir Samuel 
Baker, who states that a Bavarian hunter in his employ, named Johann Schmidt, 
was on one occasion wandering along the bank of the Royan River in Abyssinia, 
when his attention was attracted by the sounds of a scuffle taking place at a 
water-hole. “ The dust was flying high in the air, and as he approached the spot, 
within the yellow surface of the river’s bed, he saw a cloud of sand, in the centre 
of which was the large body and long neck of a bull giraffe struggling against the 
attack of two lions. One of these was fastened upon its throat, while the other was 
mounted upon its hind-quarters, where it was holding on with teeth and claws. . . . 
The giraffe had no chance, and after a sharp struggle, before the well-concealed 
spectator, it was pulled down, and both lions commenced to growl over their con¬ 
tested prey.” 
Although in both the foregoing instances the lions, after securing their prey, 
commenced to quarrel among themselves, it does not appear that such quarrels 
always occur in similar circumstances, since Gordon Cumming relates how that he 
once saw no less than six lions feeding peaceably upon the carcase of a rhinoceros. 
From this part of our subject we are naturally led on to the consideration of 
the ordinary food of lions, and the manner in which they attack the larger animals 
upon which they prey. It has been already mentioned that in the oak forests of 
Persia the staple food of the lions is formed by the wild pigs which frequent these 
woods. In India Mr. Blanford states that lions usually feed on deer, antelope, wild 
pigs, cattle, horses, donkeys, and camels; and that formerly a large number of the 
latter were destroyed by them. In Africa lions appear to prey largely upon 
antelopes, zebras, quaggas, buffaloes, and giraffes. Mr. Drummond states that on 
the many occasions on which he has seen lions hunting by daylight, he cannot 
recall one when they were not in pursuit of buffaloes, and he has known herds of 
those animals which he had been hunting during the day scattered and dispersed 
by lions at night. On the other hand, Mr. Drummond would not commit himself 
to the statement that buffalo-meat forms the staple food of the South African lion. 
“ Were a zebra, a fat rhinoceros, and a fat buffalo to be killed and left out, it is 
probable that they would be eaten in the order I have named. Soft succulent fat 
is what the lion probably considers most toothsome, and zebras supply this in a 
higher degree than any other animal, save the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus, 
neither of which he is able to kill; but on the other hand, the zebra . . . confines 
himself to the open, as far as possible, never approaches within springing distance 
of a thicket, and rarely, unless when going to water, gives the lion a chance. 
Buffaloes, on the other hand, are nearly always in and close to cover, presenting con¬ 
tinual opportunities for a successful stalk; and though the danger in attacking them 
is much greater, as is proved by the no means rare instances of lions being maimed, 
and even killed in such contests, yet for the above reason they form their chief food.” 
