Year: 1873

LIONS AND THEIR HABITS.


The public must feel some difficulty
in forming a true estimate of the PROV.
ess of the African lion from the number
of conflicting statements made by diff,
ferent travellers and hunters. The truth
appears to be that, while each one has
formed an opinion from the behavior OF
the particular animals they CHARGED tc
meet with, the fact that every single lior
| differs from another in temper and dis
position has been allowed to drop out Of
sight. That some lions will make point
of attacking any human being they see
without the slightest provocation, ad,
mits of no doubt, while it is at least
| equally certain that there are others that
can hardly be forced to retaliate, and
which, even. when wounded, will always
rather run than fight.


Generally speaking, and subject to
the above exceptions, I have found that
the lion of southeastern Africa rarely
goes out of its way to attack people
will, in point of fact, shun conflict
when avoidabIe. There is nearly always
some explanation of its behavior when ii
acts otherwise either the hunter has
approached so near before seen that the
animal is afraid to turn tail, and, urged
by its very fears, makes a charge; or it
may be half famished, and, having got
hold of some prey, either of your kill
ing or its own, will not quit it without a
contest, or, if a lioness with cubs, will
fight in defense of their supposed
danger.


In all the above cases, utter immobil-
ity and GOODNESS will often avert an at
tack If the animal, Judging by your
behavior, imagines that you do not want
to hurt it, it will, after trying you for
several minutes, and even making one or
two sham charges, often walk away and
allow you to do the same but merely
raising the arm, much less pointing the
gun at it, is sure to make it come on.
One or two instances of this occur to
me. A large native hunting-par had
gone out, and were scattered over the
thOrns. One of my gun-bearers, who
had gone with it, suddenly found him.
self face to face with fulI-grown male
lion, without a yard between them. He
had presence of mind enough to stand
perfectly still, without even attempting
to take one of the spears he carried in
his left hand into the other After a
couple Of minutes the brute walked
away, turning its head round every sec
ond to watch him. Before going far it
met another man, who raised his spear,
as if to throw it. 1t instantly sprang on
him, and inflicted such wounds that he
died within half an hour. I have no
doubt that if this man also had stood
still, he would have been perfectly safe.
Again, hunter of mine was following
buffalO tracks into some thickets; sud
denly male lion rose out of one of
them and snarled at him he had hardly
seen it when another, about three-quar-
ters grown, showed itself little on one
side, and from behind he heard the low
growing of a third. Partly turning, so
as to watch them all, he saw the latter
was lioness :. and that three cubs, not
much larger than cats, were following
their mother, one of them running to-
ward him without showing the least fear


He had, unawares, got into the centre of
lion family. The ioness, in fear for
her offspring, rushed up, and, as he af-
terward described it, fairly danced
round and round him, springing to with
in a yard of him, sideways, backward,
and every way but him. In this case,
also, he stood still without any move
ment, for, as he said, it was a hundred
to one he did not kill the mother; and,
suppose he had, the other two would
have soon avenged her. It ended by
their ultimately retiring into the thicket,
and watching him as he cleared out.
Had he been nervous, or done any thing
but remain quiet, there is no doubt he
would not have come out alive.


On the other hand, lion will seldom
stand much bullying. He may, and of
ten will, get out of your way, nay, even
leave his prey if you approach it, and
should you follow him will perhaps do
so a second time, but that is about the
extent of it. He seems to argue: "T've
retired twice, and here you are at me
again; we'll, if you must have it, come
on nearer, if you dare ;" and then, if a
male, he growls deeply, and makes his
name bristle up round him or, if a IL
| Oness, crouches down like cat, lays her
ears back, and shows her teeth. In any
| case You are in for it, the brute is fairly
reused, and, retire or advance as you
like, charge is inevitable.


! 1 lived for many years among these
animals, and their very name recalls in
Vulnerable reoollections and anecdotes.
Perhaps the most beautiful sight ev-
er saw in connection with them, worth
all the ZOOS in the world, wason morn
| ing had gone out to hunt with one bear
er at dawn. I had not got far from
camp, and my gun was still unloaded.
while I was examining some buffalo
spoOr, when, on looking up, saw my
| gun-bearer, who had my cartridges, run.