A DESCRIPTION OF 
Lions ; and another person was under the necessity of per- 
forming this duty. The male, sad and solitary, remained 
from that moment constantly seated at the end of his 
cage, and refused to take food from the stranger, whose 
presence was hateful to him, and whom he often menaced 
by bellowing. The company even of the female seemed 
now to displease him, and he paid no attention to her. 
The uneasiness of the animal afforded a belief that he was 
really ill ; but no one dared to approach him. At length 
Felix recovered ; and, with an intention to surprise the 
Lion, he crawled softly to the cage, and showed only his 
face between the bars : the Lion, in a moment, made a 
bound, leaped against the bars, patted him with his paws, 
licked his hands and face, and trembled with pleasure. The 
female also ran to him ; but the Lion drove her back, 
and seemed angry; and, fearful that she should snatch any 
favours from Felix, a quarrel was about to take place ; but 
Felix entered the cage to pacify them. He caressed them 
by turns ; and was afterwards frequently seen betwixt 
them. He had so great a command over these animals, 
that whenever he wished them to separate and retire to 
their cages, he had only to give the order : when he had a 
desire that they should lie down, and show strangers their 
paws or throats, on the least sign they would throw them- 
selves on their backs, hold up their paws one after another? 
open their throats, and, as a recompense, obtain the favour 
of licking his hand. 
The Lion, like all animals of the cat kind, does not de- 
vour its prey the moment it has seized it. When the 
Lions in cages are fed, they generally hide their food 
under them for a minute or two before they eat it. Thus 
an instance is known of a man, who was struck down by 
a Lion, having time to draw his hunting-knife and stab 
the Lion, who was growling over him, to the heart, be- 
fore the ferocious beast had seriously injured him. The 
Lion also resembles a cat in its mode of stealing after, 
and watching its prey, a long time before seizing if. 
