Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/226

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THE BABYHOOD OF WILD BEASTS

a fine young dandy lion. His mother will wean him in a few weeks and the little fellow will have to depend on himself and his keeper.

The memory of lions is quite remarkable. Carl Hagenbeck cites an instance which is most interesting regarding this highly developed faculty in lions. Two lions with whom Hagenbeck was well acquainted, had been taken to Bronx Park, New York. As their old friend approached their den, they stared at him. The moment he called their names, they sprang up, ran to the bars, purring loudly while he stroked and caressed them.

His old lion, "Trieste," has been in his possession eighteen years. Trieste is a performer and does many tricks. His master writes of him: "He is as tame, true and faithful as a dog. Indeed I often treat him as if he were a dog. One day last summer, I noticed with sorrow that my old friend was lame; and upon further observation, I found that he was suffering great pain.... I found that on each of the animal's hind feet two claws had grown into the flesh.... In such matters, Trieste can be treated like a sensible human being. Having been ordered to lie down,