Lions have been known to live upwards of seventy years, as did Pompey, the large male Lion that died, in 1760, in the Tower of London. The Lion is the constant companion of Britannia, as a national symbol of strength, courage, and generosity. In ancient gems, in paintings, and statuary, the Lion's skin is the attribute of Hercules. In scriptural compositions, he is painted at the side of the evangelist St. Mark; and holds the fifth place among the signs of the zodiac, answering to the months of July and August. Is in all her dimensions about one-third less than the male. She has no mane, which is proper to the male only, and to whose shoulders and neck it is a great ornament. She goes five months with young, and produces them in the spring; has a fresh brood every year, and four or five whelps at a litter, which she rears up with jealous fierceness, being most outrageous when any man or animal dares to approach her den. The young ones are about the size of a large pug dog, harmless, pretty, and playful; they continue at the teat twelve months, and are about five years in coming to perfection. Is the largest of the animals belonging to the feline kind; for he even exceeds the lion in size, and is of an unconquerable fierceness. His body is elegantly marked with longitudinal dark spots, or brown streaks, on a tawny ground. The Tiger is swift, and afraid of no beasts; all he attacks most furiously; yet he seems to be awed by the presence of man, as he never attacks him but when pressed by hunger, or the fear of losing his young. The cubs of the Royal Tiger are most elegant in their shape, and as playful as kittens. The marshy banks and swampy meadows of the Indus and Ganges harbour great numbers of these animals, whose stripes adorn the standard of the Mogul princes from time immemorial. The Tiger is perfectly untamable. Correction cannot terrify, nor indulgence reclaim him, from his ferocious propensities; and he is naturally so cruel, that when he attacks a flock or herd, he destroys all indiscriminately, and will hardly suspend his rage to satisfy his hunger. The Tiger's method of taking his prey is in general by concealing himself, and springing suddenly on his victim; he has been known to carry a horse or a buffalo on his back with such facility that the swiftness of his motion seemed scarcely retarded by the enormous load. The attack of one of these animals upon Mr. Monro, son of Sir Hector Monro, was attended with the most tragical consequences. "We went," says an eyewitness, "on shore on Sangar Island, to shoot deer, of which we saw innumerable tracks, as well as of Tigers. We continued our diversion till near three o'clock, when sitting down by the side of a jungle to refresh ourselves, a roar like thunder was heard, and an immense Tiger seized our unfortunate friend, and rushed again into the jungle, dragging him through the thickest bushes and trees, every thing giving way to his monstrous strength: a Tigress accompanied his progress. The united horrors of agony, regret, and fear rushed at once upon us. I fired on the Tiger: he seemed agitated. My companions fired also; and in a few moments after this, our unfortunate friend came up to us bathed in blood. Every medical assistance was vain, and he expired in the space of twenty-four hours, having received such deep wounds from the teeth and claws of the animal as rendered his recovery hopeless. A large fire, consisting of ten or twelve whole trees, was blazing near us at the time this accident took place; and ten or more of the natives were with us. The human mind can scarcely form any idea of this scene of horror. We had but just pushed our boat from the shore, when the Tigress made her appearance, almost raging mad, and remained on the sand all the time we continued in sight." Is in shape somewhat like the leopard, with which he has been often confounded by naturalists. His hair is short, sleek, and glossy, and of a bright yellow, beautifully marked with round annular, black spots. He is about the size of a large mastiff dog, with legs not quite so long; his voice is strong and hoarse, and he growls continually. He is fierce, greedy of blood, swift in the chase, and catches his prey by leaping from some lurking place, where he squats himself in the manner and shape of a cat, which he resembles in many points. His tongue, in licking, grates like a file. Some years ago, a fine young animal of this species was exhibited in the Tower of London. During its voyage to England, it ran about the decks of the vessel in the most tame and playful manner. It was presented by Admiral Rennier, and a boy (servant to the admiral) carried it to the royal menagerie in a dog kennel. Having taken it to the den in his arms, the youth appeared very unwilling to quit his favourite, and remained a considerable time, kissing the animal, and bidding it adieu in the most tender manner. The Panther also exhibited the strongest marks of attachment; and some time elapsed before the keeper could reconcile it to its new situation. : DIFFERS but little from the panther: his length from nose to tail is about four feet, the colour of the body is a more lively yellow, and the spots of his skin are smaller and closer than those of the panther; they are composed of four or five black dots arranged in a circle, and not imperfectly representing the vestige left by the animal's foot upon the sand. These quadrupeds are naturally very ferocious, and attack, without distinction, every thing they meet. Kolben informs us, that in the year 1708, two of these animals, a male and female, with three young ones, broke into a sheepfold at the Cape of Good Hope. They killed nearly a hundred sheep, and regaled themselves with the blood; after which, they tore a carcass into three pieces, and gave one of these to each of their offspring; they then took each a whole sheep, and, thus laden, began to retire; but having been observed, they were waylaid on their return, and the female and the young ones were killed, while the male effected his escape. |