The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-05-28
From the Westminster Review
THE LOVES OF THE LIONS.

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THE LOVES OF THE LIONS.
Let US first sketch the history of the
lions life, beginning with his marriage,
which takes place toward the end of
January. He has frst to seek wife !;
but as the males are far more abundant
than the females, who are often cut off
in infancy, it is not rare to find young
lady pestered by three or four gallante,
who quarrel with the aoerbity of Jealous
lovers. If one of them does not succeed
in disabling or driving away the others,
madam, impatient and dissatisfied, leads
them into the presence of an old lion,
whose roar she has appreciated at dis
tance. Tho lovers fly at him with the
temerity of youth and exaspiration. The
old fellow receives them with calm as
surancs, breaks the neck of the first with
his terrible jaws, smashes the leg of the
second, tears out the eyes of the third
No sooner is the dey won, and the field
clear, than tie lion tosses the name in
the air and roars, and then he crouches
by the side of the lady, who, as reward
for his courage, licks his wounds caress-
ingly. When two adult lions are the
rivals, the encounter is more serious.
An Arab, perched on tree one night,
saw lioness followed by tawny lion
with full-grown name; she lay down at
the foot of the tree, the lioa stopped on
his path and seemed to listen. The Arab
then heard the distant growing of lion,
which was instantly replied to by the Ii
oness under the tree. This made her
husband roar furiously. The distant Ii
on was heard approaching, and as he
came nearer the lioness roaring louder,
which seemed to agitato her husband,
for he marched toward her as if to force
her to be silent, and then sprang back
to his old post, roaring defiance at his
distant rival. This continued for about
an hour, when a black lion made his ap-
rearance on the plain. The lioness arose
as if to go towards him, but her husband
guessing her intention, bounded toward
his rival. The two crouebed and sprang
on each other, rolling on the grass in the
embrace of death. Their bones cracked
their flesh was torn, their cries Of rage
and excruciating agony rent the air,
and all this time the lioness crouched
and wagged her tail slowly in sign of
satisfaction. When the combat ended,
and both warriors were stretched on the
plain, she rose, smelt them, and satisfied
herself that they were dead. and troted
off, quite regardless of the uncomplimen-
tary epithet which the indignant Arab
shouted after her. This, Gerard tells
US, is an example of the eonjugal fideli-
ty of my lady, whereas the lion never
quits his wife, unless forced, and isquite
a pattern of conjugal attentions.
Our lion, then is married, let US say.
He is the slave of his wife. It is she
who always takes predence; when she
steps he steps. On arriving at DoDR
the collection of tents-vEhat is called |
a "village y for their supper, she lies
down while he leaps into the inclosure
and brings to her booty. He watches
her while she eats, taking care that no
one shall disturb her; and not until her
appetite is satisfied does he begin his
meal. When she feels that she is about
to become q mother, I. E., toward the
middle Of December, they seek an inso
lated raYinc, and there, without the aid
of cAloroform or DR.. Locock, she pre-
sents her lord With one, tEo, and some
tines three puppies, generally one male
and one female. If the reader has ever
seen and handled a puppy lion, be will
the mother and father. She
never quits them for An instant, and he
only quits them to bring home supper.
When they are three months old their
veening commences. The mother &C.
customs them gradually to it, by absent
ing herself for longer and longer periods,
and bringing them pieces of mutton care
fully skinned. The father, whose habit
ual demeanor is grave, becomes fatigued
by the frivplous sports of his children,
aud for the sake of tranquility removes
his lodgings to distance, within reach,
however, to render assistance if re-
luired.
At the age of four or Eve months
their children follow their mother to the
border of the forest, where the father
brings them their. supper. At six
months old they accompany their father
and mother in all nocturnal expeditions.
From eight to twelve months they learn
to attack sheep, goats, and even bulls;
but they are SO awkward that they usu-