Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-14
From the New Orleans Picayune.

THEREBY HANGS TAIL.-It hangs to what
the naturalsts call Puma the Mexicans Lion,
the Texans Mexican Lion. A splendid fellow
he is, too, with great, sleepy, green eyes, skin
as soft velvet, and beautifully mottled, teeth
half inch long and sharp as razors, claws over
an inch in length, jaws four inches across, limbs
as finely proportioned as sculptor could desire,
and as brawny as any ploughmans you ever
saw, chest broad as young colts, body as
flexible as a snakes. The fellow is playful too;
the only precaution to be taken is not to put
your hand where he can get hold of it. To look
at him, one would think him the gentlest of kit
tens as weak and delicate as mouse but a
lood at his old cage, with the thick timbers torn
up as if struck by lightning, will change this
opinion at once. Once or twice already he has
got loose in the big warehouse where he is kept,
and such sudden disappearance Of the human
inhabitants thereof as then took place was never
before witnessed. He did no HARM however be-
ing mercifully inclined.
This specimen of what Texas can produce in
the way of wild animals, was, when cub, caught
on the Rio Grande by an officer in the army, and
was presented by him to friend of his residing
at Corpus Christi. He grew up under charge Of
Mexican, who led him about, without chain,
and treated him as be would favorite dog. The
animal never attempted to harm his guardian.
and appeared to have decided affection for him.
Not long since an acquaintance of ours, young
man unacquainted with the ways of the world,
and particularly the world of Texas, was out on
horseback in the praries, back of Corpus Christi,
Choking for what he could see." Presently, in
moving along road, he came across one Of those
low, odd, acknowledging things, called Mex
lean cart. 1t pied the middle of the highway;
the oxen harnessed to it were lying down, chew
ing the cud of animal reflection. The vehicle
was apparently unoccupied.
Our adventurer rode nearer, and just as he was
within few feet of the cart, up rose suddenly
tall, black Oil-skin-covered, steeple-shaped Mex
lean hat, and under it one of the strangest faces
that ever astonished a stranger. 1t was no less
an individual than our :" lion," who had sprung
up and sat there on his launches, showing his
teeth in grim smile, and staring out of his big,
green, glistening eyes in no pleasant manner for
person unaccustomed to such adventures. Our
traveller felt call overish' down to his boots; his
horse, frightened out of his wits, snorted and
reared and pranced around, getting as far out of
the way of the cart as he could. The ''lion" sat
still, wagging his long tail, and evidently enjoy
ing the scene. His appearance, with the tall,
queer hat, was ridiculous enough still there was
something about him that made it more natural
to desire to get out of his neighborhood than to
stay near and laugh at him.
Our traveller speedily regained his presence of
mind, and forced his horse up to the cart. A
mans head now rose above the sides of the cart,
and called out in Spanish what the Senior wanted.
Ihe non companion was MS guardian, a Mexl-
can. He was going down to Corpus Christi to
deliver him to his owner, and at noon had stop
ped his cart and laid down to take nap. The
lions haunch was an excellent pillow for the
Mexican's head, and the lions head superior
deposit for the Mexican's hat. So both had gone
lovingly to sleep together.
The Mexican lion no wise resembles his Afri-
can or Asiatic namesake. He is more akin to the
tiger. The one We have spoken of above is the
finest specimen of the race we have ever seen.
They are now quite rare in Texas.