QUADRUPEDS. 7 
rible as soon as she has young ones to provide for. From 
the moment she becomes a mother, the ferocity of her dis- 
position appears with tenfold vigour ; and woe be to the 
wretched intruder, whether man or beast, who should un- 
warily at such a time approach the precincts of her 
sanctuary/ She makes her incursions for food for her 
young with even more intrepidity than the Lion himself; 
she throws herself indiscriminately among men and other 
animals ; destroys without distinction ; loads herself with 
the spoil, and brings it home reeking to her cubs. She 
usually brings forth her young in the most retired and in- 
accessible places ; and when she fears to have her retreat 
discovered, often hides her tracks, by running back over 
the ground, or by brushing them out with her tail. She 
sometimes also, when her apprehensions are great, trans- 
ports her young from one place to another like a cat ; and 
if obstructed, defends them with determined courage, and 
fights to the last. 
Mr. Fennel, in his History of Quadrupeds, relates an 
interesting anecdote of a Lioness kept at the Tower in 
1773. This creature had become " greatly attached to a 
little dog, which was her constant companion. When 
the Lioness was about to whelp, the dog was removed ; 
but shortly after her accouchement had taken place, the 
dog contrived to enter the den, and approached the 
Lioness with his usual fondness. She, alarmed for her 
cubs, immediately seized him, and seemed about to kill 
him ; but, as if suddenly recollecting their former friend- 
ship, she carried him to the door of her den, and allowed 
him to escape unhurt" Mr. Fennel also tells us, that the 
first Lioness ever brought to England, died in the Tower 
in 1773, after having attained a great age. 
