Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-09-30
~ !, Cummine,s ..Iiuntor,s Life in S. Africa'
IiIfS . 11UtU0k D
Habits Of the Lion.

H1DltS VI tnt LlVn.
One of the most striking things connect
ed with lhe lion is his voice, which Is ex-
tremely grand and peculiarly striking. II
consists al times Of low deep moaning,
repeated FIVE or six times, ending it family
audible sighs; at other times he slartles the
fores, with deep.tonel, solemn rears, re-
peated several times in quick successlon'
each increasing in loudness to the third or
fourth, when bis voice dies away in tive
or six low, smuflled sounds, very much re,
sembling distant thunder. Al times and
not unirequen,ly troop may be- heard
70 ring in concert, one, assuming the lead,
and two, throe, or :, four morevrcgularly
taking up their parts, like persons singing
catch.@ Like our Scottish stags al the
ruttirg season, they roar loudest in the
cold, frosty nights; but on no occasion are
their voices to be heard in such perfection,
or so intensely powerful, as when Two or
three strange troops cf lions approach
fountain 10 drink at the samo Time. When
| this occurs, every member Of each troop
sounds a bold roar of defiance at the op
posi,e parties; and when one roars, all
roar together, and each seems to vie with
his comrades in the intensity and power OF
his voice. The power md grandeur of
these nocturnal forest concerts is incon-
ceivably striking and pleasing to the hun
ter's ear. The effect is greatly enhanced
when tho hearer happens 10 be situated in
the'depths of the forest, nt the dead hour OF
midnight, unaccompanied by any attend
ant, and ensconced within twenty yards OF
the fountain which the surrounding troop
of lions are approaching. Such has been
my situation many scores of times; and
though am allowed 10 have q tolerable
/ good taste for music, consider tho catch
es with which was then reguled as the
sweetest and most natural | ever b eard
As general rule, lions roar during the
night; their signing means commencing as
the shades of evening envelope the forest,
and continuing ut intervals throughout the
night. lbs t'*H.l,as..5 So .a- t*5
In distant and secluded regions, however,
have constantly heard them roaring
loudly as late Us nine and ten O'Clock on q
bright sunny morning. In hazy and
rainy weather they nre TO be heard at
every hour in the day, but their roar is
sub6ued. 1t often happens that when two
strange malelions meet ut q fountain q
4 terrible combat ensues, which not un(re.
| quently ends in the death of one Of them
| The habits of the lion are strictly noctur-
nal; during the day he lies concealed be-
meath the shade of some low bushy tree or
wide spreading bush, either in the level
forest or on the mountain side. He is also
partial 10 lofty reeds or fields Of long rank
yellow grass, such as occur in low lying
valleys. From these 1haunts he sallies
forth when the sun goes down, and COM
mences bis nightly prowl. When he is
successful in his beat, and has secured his
prey, he does not roar much tha, night,
only utteringr occasionally few low
means; that is, provided no intruders ap.
proach him, Otherwise the case would be
very different. | remarked fac,
commented with the lions hour Of drinking
peculiar TO themselves; they seemed un
willing to visit The fountains with gooe
moonlight Thus, when. the moon rose
early, the lions deferred their hour OF wa
tering until late in the morning; and when
the moon rose late, they drank at very
early hour in the night. n Owing te
the tawny coloro Of the coat with which ma
ture has robed him, he is perfectly invisi
BILE in the dark; and although | have oiler
heard them loudly lapping the water under
my very nose, not twenty yards from me-
could not possibly make out SO much as
| the outline OF their forms When lhirs
ty lion comes to water, he stretches out hi:
massive arms, lies down on his breas' to
drink, and makes loud tapping noise in
drinking, not 10 be mistaken. He con.in
ues tapping up the wuter for long while
and four Or five times during the proceed.
ing he pauses for half minute as if Il
take breath. One thing conspicuous abou
them is their eyes, which, in dark night
glow like two balls Of fire. es 80 ~
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