Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-09-17
THE ALGERIAN LION.
HIS MAGNIFICENT STRENGTH AND
COURAGE.
A Faithful Husband and Father.--Fear-
ful Fight Between Lions.

mountain air essential To them: IN
fact, reared like rabbits in a hutch.
But wild, and in Algeria, the lion at
tsins size beyond our ideas, and =,
with his magnificent name, has an ap-
pearance which would absolutely
frighten the NANCY. poodle-like speci-
mems OF his kind that are found in
geological gardens The strongest man
in the cavalry regiment 10 which Jules
Gerard belonged was unable 10 lift the
skin and head OF an Algerian lien
Gerard had Kill ed.
We have been equally mistaken as to
the lions character, and our mistakes
have arisen because naiuralists and
travellers have been content TO observe
him by day only. forgetting that he
belongs 10 the feline race which as a
rule is quite out of its element in the
sunshine.
Lions usually mate about the end OF
January; but SO many lionesses are
cut of in infancy by teething that
there are always many more males
than females. and 50 the lion has con-
siderable difficulty in providing him
self with a wife. In fact, IL il not
uncommon TO meet young leonine
lady accompanied by three or four
suitors, who quarrel among themselves
a. Jealous young lions may be supposed
to quarrel. Sometimes one of these
lovers succeeds in driving of the rest,
and marries the lady; but if not, mad
anne, tired of their quarrels, and
wishing, perhaps, for little domestic
peace, leads them into the presence of
an old lion. The result she has calcu-
lated on The young lions attack the
stranger with all the rashness of youth;
but the old fellow, taking il quietly,
breaks the leg of one assailant, stran-
giles another. and the third has reason
to consider himself happy if he es-
capes with only the loss of an eve.
Having thus cleared the field, the coiI-
queror roars, shakes his name, and
then couches down by the lady's side,
who cares ingly licks the wounds he
has received for her sake.
But when two full-grown lions fight
in such cause, the encounter Is not
concluded so readily. An Arab of the
tribe of Kesenna told jules Gerard the
following story: He (Mohammed)
was spending moonlight night in II
tree, when he espied a lioness, fol-
lowed by a full-grown tawny lion,
coming down the path near by. The
lioness, leaving the path, came and lay
down under the tree in which Moham-
med was perched, but the lion re
mained standing in the path, and
seemed TO listen. Presently the distant
roar of another lion was heard, to
which the lioness responded, at which
her companion roared so furiously that
the frightened Arab let his gun drop,
and clung to the branches lest he
should fall himself. Then were heard
sounds as if the lion in the distance
were approaching, and as he drew
nearer the lioness roared still louder,
when her enraged husband made to-
ward her as if to force her to keep
silence. Some time after, black lion
made his appearance at the border of
the plain.
The lioness rose to go TO him; but,
guessing her intention, her husband
bounded toward his enemy. They
crouched face to face, roaring. and
then sprang at each other, rolling over
the grass in deadly strife The battle
was terrible. Their bones cracked be-
tween each others Jaws They tore at
each others stomachs, and their cries.
now fierce, now agonizing, betrayed
their mingled rage and pain. The
Iioness, meanwhile, lay quietly looking
on: and a. the fight grew tiercer and
more deadly, her tail wagged with sat
isfaction at the spectacle At length,
the battle ended, she walked leisurely
up to the combatants, now stretched
motionless, smelled at them, and, find
ing them both dead, coolly walked of
such, Gerard tells us, i the heart
less conduct of leonine wives in gen.
eraI; while they are always treated
with faithfulness and affection by their
lords. The lion Is, in fact, the slave
of his wife. Shj always takes pre-
eedence; when she stops, he stops On
arriving at the douar Ca collection OF
Arab tents, which we would call a
s.yillage'D, where they expect to nnd
their supper, she lies down while he
leans into the inclosure and brings tO
her the booty. He watches her with
satisfaction while she eats, taking care
that no one shall disturb her repast
and not until her appetite IL satisfied
does he begin his meal When the
noness has children, which usually
happens about New Year, they seek
lonely rsvine, and the puppies, which
are generally one male and one female
In number, are most tenderly cared
for. While young, the mother never
quits them for an instant, and th'
father only quits them to bring home
supper. When they are three months
old their weaving commences
At the age of or months the
voung ones follow their mother TO th'
border of the forest, where their father
brings them their supper. When
months old, they accompany father anC
mother in all nocturnal expeditions
From to - months, under their par
ent's tuition, they learn to attacl
sheen, goats, and even bulls, but the!
are so awkward that they usually
wound ten for one they kill; and 1t Il
not till they are two years old that thel
can kill a horse or bull sc. .entiticalll
that is to say, with but a single glip'
in the throat. While their education
is thus in progress, they are dreadfuIl!
ruinous TO the Arabs, since the family
| does not content itself with killing tn
cattle required for its own consump
| ton, but kill that the children ma!
learn how to kill. At 8 years old tn
Young ones quit home and set up 20
| themselves, becoming fathe 8 AM
| mothers in their turn
| Lions become full grown at year
Did: at that age they arrive at thel
complete size and strength, and not u