of species among which are the lion, the tiger and the leopard, as well
as the cat and the dog. The two sub-orders into which this order is
divided are: I, The Fissipedia, and II, The Pinnipedia. The Fissipedia
are again divided into ten families; lions, cats, dogs, hyenas, weasels,
and bears being the most important members. The Pinnipedia includes the
seal, the sea lion, the walrus and their allies.
SUB-ORDER I.
The Fissipedia. Animals of the Cat Kind.
Animals of the cat kind are distinguished by their sharp and formidable
claws, which they can hide or extend at pleasure. They are remarkable
for their rapacity, subsisting entirely on the flesh and blood of other
animals. The dog, wolf, and bear, are sometimes known to live on
vegetables, or farinaceous food; but the lion, the tiger, the leopard,
and other animals of this class, devour nothing but flesh, and would
starve upon any other provision. They lead a solitary, ravenous life,
uniting neither for mutual defence, like vegetable feeders, nor for
mutual support, like those of the dog kind. The first of the class is
the lion, distinguished from all the rest by his strength, his
magnitude, and his mane. The second is the tiger, rather longer than the
lion, but not so tall, and known by the streaks and vivid beauty of its
skin; here we may also mention the puma, which is sometimes called a
panther, or colloquially a "painter", otherwise a couguar, or American
lion, which is of a tawny colour. The next is the leopard, sometimes
called a panther, and the next the jaguar, followed by the ounce, not so
large as any of the former, spotted like them, but distinguished by the
cream-coloured ground of its hair, and a tail so long as to exceed the
length of its body. The next is the catamountain, or tiger-cat, less
than the ounce, but differing particularly in having a shorter tail,
and being streaked down the back like a tiger. The next is the lynx, of
the size of a fox, with its body streaked, and the tips of its ears
tufted with black. Then comes the Persian lynx, not so large as the
lynx, nor mottled like it, but with longer ears, tipped also with black,
and the serval, shaped and streaked like the lynx, but not having the
tips of its ears tufted. Lastly, the cat, wild and tame, with all its
varieties; less than any of the former, but like them insidious,
rapacious, and cruel.
[Illustration: The Lion]
The Lion.
The lion is known as the King of Beasts; though modern travellers have
done much to rob him of the homage that he once received. Like a human
being who has been too much lionized, he suffers from the detractions
which are excited by his pre-eminence. He is found chiefly in India and
Africa, though he once had a more extended range. He was well known to
the Greeks, and appears in both their poetry and history. Homer
celebrates him, and according to Herodotus he exploited himself by
attacking the camels of the army of Xerxes. His noble appearance is said
to be responsible for the popular ideal of his character, which
travellers and naturalists declare to be minus the magnanimous and
generous qualities with which it was at one time credited.
The Lion's Character.
In judging of the lion's character it is important to remember that he
belongs to the cat family, and that his virtues and vices are naturally
of the cat kind. "The lion seldom runs," says the author of "Tales of
Animals." "He either walks or creeps, or, for a short distance, advances
rapidly by great bounds. It is evident, therefore, that he must seize
his prey by stealth; that he is not fitted for an open attack; and that
his character is necessarily that of great power, united to considerable
skill and cunning in its exercise." Again, the lion, as well as others
of the cat tribe, takes his prey at night; and it is necessary,
therefore, that he should have peculiar organs of vision. In all those
animals which seek their food in the dark, the eye is usually of a large
size, to admit a great number of rays. This peculiar kind of eye,
therefore, is necessary to the Lion to perceive his prey, and he creeps
towards it with a certainty which nothing but this distinct nocturnal
vision could give." Men who hunt the lion in the daytime, when he is
usually sleeping off the effects of a hearty meal, and who awaken him in
a surprised and dazed condition when his cat-like eyes cannot bear the
blaze of the sun, ought not to be surprised if he tries to postpone
fighting until a more convenient season. Nor can he be said to be less
noble because he only fights when it is necessary to procure food, to
protect his young, and to defend himself. A veritable Ulysses among the
beasts he is ready to fight if needs be, but unless urged by hunger, or
attacked by the hunter, he does not seem to bear any particular malice
against mankind.
The Lion's Attitude towards Man.
"It is singular," says Sparrman, "that the lion, which, according to
many, always kills his prey immediately if it belongs to the brute
creation, is reported, frequently, although provoked, to content himself
with merely wounding the human species; or, at least, to wait some time
before he gives the fatal blow to the unhappy victim he has got under
him. A farmer, who the year before had the misfortune to be a spectator
of a lion seizing two of his oxen, at the very instant he had taken them
out of the waggon, told me that they immediately fell down dead upon the
spot, close to each other; though, upon examining the carcasses
afterwards, it appeared that their backs only had been broken. In
several places through which I passed, they mentioned to me by name a
father and his two sons, who were said to be still living, and who,
being on foot near a river on their estate, in search of a lion, this
latter had rushed out upon them, and thrown one of them under his feet.
The two others, however, had time enough to shoot the lion dead upon the
spot, which had lain almost across the youth, so nearly and dearly
related to them, without having done him any particular hurt. I myself
saw, near the upper part of Duyvenhoek River, an elderly Hottentot who,
at that time (his wounds being still open), bore under one eye, and
underneath his cheek bone the ghastly marks of the bite of a lion, which
did not think it worth his while to give him any other chastisement for
having, together with his master (whom I also knew), and several other
Christians, hunted him with great intrepidity, though without success.
The conversation ran everywhere in this part of the country upon one
Bota, a farmer and captain in the militia, who had lain for sometime
under a lion, and had received several bruises from the beast, having
been at the same time a good deal bitten by him in one arm, as a token
to remember him by; but, upon the whole, had, in a manner, had his life
given him by this noble animal. The man was said then to be living in
the district of Artaquaskloof."
Discretion the better part of Valour.
The following seems to show a curious power of reasoning on the part of
the lion. "Diederik Muller, one of the most intrepid and successful of
modern lion-hunters in South Africa, had," says Sir William Jardine,
"been out alone hunting in the wilds, when he came suddenly upon a lion,
which, instead of giving way, seemed disposed, from the angry attitude
he assumed, to dispute with him the dominion of the desert. Diederik
instantly alighted, and confident of his unerring aim levelled his gun
at the forehead of the lion, who was couched in the act to spring,
within fifteen paces of him; but at the moment the hunter fired, his
horse, whose bridle was round his arm, started back and caused him to
miss. The lion, bounded forward, but stopped within a few paces,
confronting Diederik who stood defenceless, his gun discharged, and his
horse running off. The man and the beast stood looking at each other in
the face for a short space. At length the lion moved backward as if to
go away. Diederik began to load his gun, the lion looked over his
shoulder, growled, and returned. Diederik stood still. The lion again
moved cautiously off, and the Boer proceeded to load and ram down his
bullet. The lion again looked back and growled angrily; and this
occurred repeatedly, until the animal had got off to some distance when
he took fairly to his heels and bounded away."
The Strength of the Lion.
Whatever may be said of the lion's courage, there can be no doubt as to
his strength. Burchell thus describes an encounter with a lion. "The day
was exceedingly pleasant and not a cloud was to be seen. For a mile or
two we travelled along the banks of the river, which in this part
abounded in late mat-rushes. The dogs seemed much to enjoy prowling
about and examining every rushy place, and at last met with some object
among the rushes which caused them to set up a most vehement and
determined barking. We explored the spot with caution as we suspected,
from the peculiar tone of the bark, that it was what it proved to
be--lions. Having encouraged the dogs to drive them out, a task which
they performed with great willingness, we had a full view of an enormous
black-maned lion and lioness. The latter was seen only for a minute, as
she made her escape up the river under concealment of the rushes; but
the lion came steadily forward, and stood still and looked at us. At
this moment we felt our situation not free from danger, as the animal
seemed preparing to spring upon us, and we were standing on the bank, at
a distance of only a few yards from him, most of us being on foot, and
unarmed, without any visible possibility of escaping. At this instant
the dogs boldly flew in between us and the lion, and surrounding him,
kept him at bay by their violent and resolute barking. The lion,
conscious of his strength, remained unmoved at their noisy attempts and
kept his head turned towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving his
eye thus engaged, had advanced close to his feet, and seemed as if they
would actually seize hold of him; but they paid dearly for their
imprudence, for, without discomposing the majestic and steady attitude
in which he stood fixed, he merely moved his paw, and the next instant I
beheld two lying dead. In doing this he made so little exertion, that it
was scarcely perceptible by what means they had been killed. We fired
upon him, and one of the balls went through his side, just between the
short ribs, but the animal still remained standing in the same position.
We had now no doubt that he would spring upon us, but happily we were
mistaken and were not sorry to see him move slowly away."
The Lion's Affection.
Many instances are on record of strong attachments formed by the lion
for his keeper, and for dogs or other animals which have been associated
with him. A remarkable example of this kind is related, where a little
dog, which had been thrown into a lion's den that he might be devoured,
was not only spared by the noble animal, but became his companion and
favourite. In a moment of irritation caused by long hunger, the dog,
having snapped at the first morsels of food, received a blow from the
lion which proved fatal. From that time the lion pined away, refused his
food, and at length died, apparently of melancholy.
The Lion's Docility.
A carpenter was employed some years ago to do some repairs to the cage
of a lion at a menagerie at Brussels. When the workman saw the lion he
drew back in terror. The keeper, on this, entered the cage and led the
animal to the upper part of it, while the lower was refitting. He there
amused himself for some time playing with the lion, and being wearied he
fell asleep. The carpenter, having finished his work, called the keeper
to inspect what he had done, but the keeper made no answer. Having
repeatedly called in vain he became alarmed and proceeded to the upper
part of the cage, where, looking through the bars, he saw the lion and
the keeper lying side by side, and immediately uttered a loud cry. The
lion started up and stared at the carpenter with an eye of fury, and
then, placing his paw on the breast of his keeper, lay down to sleep
again. The carpenter, terrified at what he saw, ran off to secure help,
whereupon some of the attendants succeeded in arousing the keeper who,
far from being disconcerted by the circumstances, took the paw of the
lion and shook it gently in token of regard and the animal quietly
returned with him to his former residence. M. Felix, the keeper of the
animals at Paris, had charge of a lion which refused food, and became
sullen and mopish during the temporary absence of M. Felix through
illness, but who regained his spirits and showed every demonstration of
joy upon the reappearance of M. Felix at his post of duty.
The story of Androcles.
With so many authentic instances which can be cited of the amenability
of the lion to kindly influences, the story of Androcles and the lion
does not seem so improbable as it has been sometimes thought. The
following is the story:--In the days of ancient Rome, a Roman governor
treated one of his slaves or subjects, called Androcles, so cruelly that
he ran away. To escape pursuit he fled to a desert and crept into a
cave. What was his horror to find that this cave was a lion's den, and
to see a large lion approach him! He expected instantly to be destroyed;
but the lion, approaching Androcles, held up his paw or foot with a
supplicating air. Androcles examined the lion's paw, and found a thorn
in it which he drew out, and the lion, apparently relieved, fawned upon
his benefactor as a dog does upon his master. After some time Androcles
ventured back to the place where he lived before. He was discovered,
taken up as a runaway slave, and condemned to be the prey of a wild
beast. He was accordingly thrown into a place where a large lion,
recently caught, was let in upon him. The lion came bounding toward
Androcles, and the spectators expected to see the man instantly torn in
pieces. What was their astonishment to see the lion approach him, and
fawn before him like a dog who had found his master! It was the lion
Androcles had met in the desert, and the grateful animal would not rend
his benefactor.
A Lion Hunt.
Livingstone came to very close quarters with a lion on one occasion, the
circumstances of which he thus narrates. "The Bakátla of the village
Mabotsa, were much troubled by lions, which leaped into the cattle-pens
by night and destroyed their cows. They even attacked the herds in open
day. This was so unusual an occurrence that the people believed that
they were bewitched, 'given' as they said, into the power of the lions
by a neighbouring tribe. They went once to attack the animals, but being
rather a cowardly people compared to Bechuanas in general on such
occasions, they returned without killing any. It is well known that if
one in a troop of lions is killed, the others take the hint and leave
that part of the country. So the next time the herds were attacked, I
went with the people in order to encourage them to rid themselves of the
annoyance by destroying one of the marauders. We found the lions on a
small hill, about a quarter of a mile in length and covered with trees.
A circle of men was formed round it, and they gradually closed up,
ascending pretty near to each other. Being down below on the plain with
a native schoolmaster, named Mebálwe, I saw one of the lions sitting
upon a piece of rock, within the now closed circle of men. Mebálwe fired
at him before I could, and the ball struck the rock upon which the
animal was sitting. He bit at the spot struck, as a dog does at a stick
or a stone thrown at him, then, leaping away, broke through the opening
circle and escaped unhurt. When the circle was reformed we saw two other
lions in it, but we were afraid to fire lest we should strike the men;
and they allowed the beasts to burst through also. If the Bakátla had
acted according to the custom of the country, they would have speared
the lions in their attempt to get out. Seeing that we could not get them
to kill one of the lions, we bent our footsteps towards the village; in
going round the end of the hill, however, I saw one of the beasts
sitting on a piece of rock, as before, but this time he had a little
bush in front. Being about thirty yards off, I took a good aim at his
body through the bush, and fired both barrels into in. The men then
called out: 'He is shot! He is shot!' Others cried: 'He has been shot by
another man, too; let us go to him.' I did not see anyone else shoot at
him, but I saw the lion's tail erected in anger behind the bush, and
turning to the people, said: 'Stop a little till I load again.' When in
the act of ramming down the bullets I heard a shout. Starting, and
looking half round, I saw the lion just in the act of springing upon me.
I was upon a little height. He caught my shoulder as he sprang and we
both came to the ground below together. Growling horribly, close to my
ear, he shook me as a terrier dog does a rat. The shock produced a
stupor, similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after the
first shake of a cat. It caused a sort of dreaminess, in which there was
no sense of pain or feeling of terror, though quite conscious of all
that was happening. It was like what patients partially under the
influence of chloroform describe, who see all the operation but feel not
the knife. This singular condition was not the result of any mental
process. The shake annihilated fear, and allowed no sense of horror in
looking round at the beast. This peculiar state is probably produced in
all animals killed by the carnivora; and, if so, is a merciful provision
by our benevolent Creator for lessening the pain of death. Turning round
to relieve myself of the weight, as he had one paw on the back of my
head, I saw his eyes directed to Mebálwe, who was trying to shoot him at
a distance of ten or fifteen yards. His gun, a flint one, missed fire in
both barrels. The lion immediately left me and attacking Mebálwe bit
his thigh. Another man, whose life I had saved before, after he had
been tossed by a buffalo, attempted to spear the lion while he was
biting Mebálwe. He left Mebálwe and caught this man by the shoulder; but
at that moment the bullets he had received took effect, and he fell down
dead. The whole was the work of a few moments, and must have been his
paroxysm of dying rage. In order to take out the charm from him, the
Bakátla, on the following day, made a huge bonfire over the carcass,
which was declared to be the largest lion they had ever seen. Besides
crunching the bone into splinters, he left eleven teeth wounds on the
upper part of my arm. A wound from this animal's tooth resembles a
gunshot wound. It is generally followed by a great deal of sloughing and
discharge, and pains are felt in the part periodically ever after. I had
on a tartan jacket on the occasion, and I believe that it wiped off all
the virus from the teeth that pierced the flesh; for my two companions
in this affray have both suffered from the peculiar pains, while I have
escaped with only the inconvenience of a false joint in my limb."
A Thrilling Experience.
Professor Lichtenstein, in his "Travels" gives a thrilling story of a
Boer's adventure with a lion, which he had from the lips of the Boer
himself. "It is now," said the colonist, "more than two years since, in
the very place where we stand, I ventured to take one of the most daring
shots that ever was hazarded. My wife was sitting within the house near
the door, the children were playing about her, and I was without, near
the house, busied in doing something to a waggon, when suddenly, though
it was mid-day, an enormous lion appeared, came up and laid himself
quietly down in the shade upon the very threshold of the door. My wife,
either frozen with fear, or aware of the danger of attempting to fly,
remained motionless in her place, while the children took refuge in her
arms. The cry they uttered attracted my attention, and I hastened
towards the door, but my astonishment may well be conceived when I
found the entrance to it barred in such a way. Although the animal had
not seen me, unarmed as I was escape seemed impossible, yet I glided
gently, scarcely knowing what I meant to do, to the side of the house,
up to the window of my chamber, where I knew my loaded gun was standing.
By a most happy chance, I had set it into the corner close by the
window, so that I could reach it with my hand; for, as you may perceive,
the opening is too small to admit of my having got in, and still more
fortunately, the door of the room was open, so that I could see the
whole danger of the scene. The lion was beginning to move. There was no
longer any time to think; I called softly to the mother not to be
alarmed, and invoking the name of the Lord, fired my piece. The ball
passed directly over the hair of my boy's head and lodged in the
forehead of the lion, immediately above his eyes and stretched him on
the ground, so that he never stirred more." "Indeed," says Professor
Lichtenstein, "we all shuddered as we listened to this relation. Never,
as he himself observed, was a more daring attempt hazarded. Had he
failed in his aim, mother and children were all inevitably lost; if the
boy had moved he had been struck; the least turn in the lion and the
shot had not been mortal to him; and to consummate the whole, the head
of the creature was in some sort protected by the door-post."
Attacked by a Lion.