Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-09
Ohio Legislature,
JENNIE AND HER LITTLE ONES.
An Interesting Family of Lions in tn
Cincinnati Geological Collection.

An Interesting Family of Lions in the
Cincinnati Geological Collection.
The Cincinnati Enquirer in recent issue
says: Jennie. the African liOnesS at the
Zoo. gave birth. some twenty days ago at
midday. 10 three cubs. one male and two
females. Ii was in a cage darkene,i 50 that
every particle Of light was shut of and
yesterday afternoon at half past two one of
the doors was taken down by Superinten-
dent Stevens and a fine view of the mother
and children presented to the Enquirer
man. She was lying mOtiunleSS on a hay
bed at the rear of the cage. her large eyes
staring fiercely at the intruders. The
little Shavers were eating their dinner
She looked dignifed and calm. In the dd-
joining cage lay Paul. the father, and he
seemed to fully realize the new RESPONSE
bility that rested upon him. He would
walk Ia the door of the cage containing the
cubs. look in and back out ten quietly lie
down by himself. On the day of their ar
rival he slowly cTawled into the cage to SEE
his mate. but he came out with a bound and
a yell, for Jennie gave him a ''wallOp" side
of the head that was hint enough that his
intrusion was unnecessary. In few days
she picked the boy lion cub up in her mouth
and carried it out and laid il before he"
liege lord and master. He 3ondesrcnded to
look al il and backed to the further end Of
the cage.
Would you like to take them up?"-said
Mr.. Stevens.
Not if it is necessary to go in there with
the old folks"
''Tll let them out in the outdoor cage. =
and. pulling up the door. the male lion
bounded out closely followed by Jennie
h., ,,,Atlsar ,..l h. Il md
the TrtiSt and reporter entered the cage and
picked up the cubs. The boy cub felt as
soft a. a roll of butter, his ears were not
over quarter of all inch long. and his
fat body covered with spotted yellow, fine.
soft hair, as soft a. wool His eyes had
no lion tierceneSS. His body seemed too
big for his legs, and he seemed luberly.
He had four little teeth-milk teeth-no
bigger than a kittens. and about ~ sharp
He waddled along the floor of the cage
and is his mothers fayOrite, a. il is the
only one of the litter that she carries
around in her mouth holding it by the nape
of the neck as a eat carries her kittens
LlOneS>es carry their young from thirteen
tn fourteen months, and they are not
weaned for four or five months. when
they are old enough 10 polish a bone
Her diet l. now a quart of fresh milk
from one cow. nine pounds of good chopped
beef and some soft bones. such aS neck
bones of mutton and chicken bones Jennie
is seven Years old and this is hen fourth lit
ter. The Others she ate up or they died
from her carrying them around tuD much
ShOugh Minnie. one Of our cubs in an Op-
pOSite cage. is nearly eight months old. was
raised by Bill HalStead on the bottle. and Is
hail fellow well met with coon that climbs
up the bars and drops on Minnir's back,
and rides around the cage in line style. She
is aS large a. a Newfoundland dog.
The most noticeable feature about the
lion family was the devotion of the mother.
Every few minutes she turned and licked
them. Her eyes never left the visitors.
whose every motion she noticed. and when
she came in from the outdoor cage after
the cubs had been handled. she bounded in,
and standing in the open door, paused
moment aS If 10 say something is coming.
and knew it. She went tO the cubs and
Smelt them all, and appeared satisfied.
Feeding time soon came. but she did not
appear ravenOuS, but, coming slowly to the
front. kept looking back at the cubs. and,
taking her meat. backed to the rear of the
cage, lying down with the cubs. When
they sleep she goes out and lies with the
lion.
Sara Bernhardt's farewell to London will