The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-02-04
The Lions Strength.

1t is scarcely fair, however, to cX-
a"gerate the relative weakness of this
animal. More than once he has been
seen at the Cape 10 seize Il heifeT and
carry her OF with the legs trailing on
the ground, with ~ much ease as =
cat wuuldrarry a mouse, leaping with
ont any difficult acrIsS a ditch, with
his lOad i'm his mouth. Often they will
carry off heiler without letting her
feet touch the ground, any more than
a mouse's feet do when the cat car
ries him.
Lcoainc iG5g-TeSpeet for age and
pO1CCr.
How do these lions manage to
share the plumber, in their expeditions
so often made in common With Il
certain degree of equity, one Is COM
PEELED TO think, since the habits of as
sOciation continue. Whenan old male
conducts the band, as he reserves to
himself the chief part Of the work, he
gives to the others his leavings; and If
this is not charitable, it is just. This
is the way in which the affair is man
aged, q described by a native:-
when several lions together come
upon some game, the oldest of the
troop crawls toward the game, whilst
the Others lie down quietly on the
grass. If he succeeds in becoming
master as he usually does, he leaves
his victim and retires for quarter of
an hour or so to take breath; during
this time the other lions approach and
lie down at a respectful distance.
When the chief has finished his re-
pose, he begins an attack on the brisk
ct and the abdomen; and after help
ing himself to the most succulentm
sells, he takes another rest-nOne of
his companions in the meantime
dreaming OfmOvingI Then when the
others, having watched all his move
ments, pOunce upon the remains,
which are soon devOured.
''On other occasions, when young
lion has seized his prey and an old one
passes by, the young one stands out
side until his senior has dined."
Observations made by Mr.. MOffat,
in continuation of his account of the
night attack already mentioned, agree
entirely with the above singular state
ment.
Evidences of shame and ambition il q
Reconsideration 6y an old lion.
The same native saw one day lion
creeping towards the stump of tree
of blackish color and not unlike a
human form. When the animal had
approached within about twenty-five
yards, he sprang forward, and missed
his mark by foot or twO-which APP
peared to mortify him very much.
After smelling the object and discov-
ering his mistake, he returned, all
ashamed, to his starting point, made
another leap, with no more success
began again-and at last, at the fourth
attempt, succeeded in putting his paw
on the imaginary prey. Then salts
fled with himself, he went away.
Another HottentOt relates that a
troop of zebras was going along a
straight path leading to the margin of
precipice. A fine stallion formed the
rear guard; when suddenly, from a
rock ten or twelve feet high, lion
sprung Mt the stallion and missed him.
The path wound round the rock, and
the lion cOmprehended that if he
could scale it at single bound, a sec
ond spring would bring him on to the
back of his victim. He made the at
tempt, but could only get sufficiently
high To see the zebra gallOping away,
beating the airwith his tail. He then
made 4 second leap-and Il third until
he succeeded. During this time two
other lions had arrived, and chatting
together after their fashion, the old
lion made them take turn round the
rock; then, leading them to the start
ing-point, he made the leap once more
in their presence to show them what
must be done in future on like Occa-
sion. '"They were evidently talking
together" said the African, "but being
in a very low tone of voice / could not
hear a word of their conversation; and
fearing they might discover me, and
take a fancy to exercise their art at
my expense, Isilently retired, leaving
them in the midst of their delibera-
tiOns."