Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/221

Rh teeth. Little lions suffer during the teething period with the same maladies young children do at that time. Colic, fever, sore gums, worms and indigestion are among the commonest of their ills. The cubs crave solid food before they lose the milk teeth. In captivity they cry for meat between the third and fourth month. Rich nourishing soup is added to their milk diet, but no raw meat is given until the sixth month. In the wild state the mother divides her kill with them when about two months of age.

I know a little lion who has been raised on a nursing bottle. He lets me hold him in my arms and takes his bottle just like a baby does. He's a greedy little scamp and always is hungry. He can't be tempted to a nice drink of water or a bowl of soup unless it is put in the bottle. This little lion is five months old and has a bulldog for a room-mate. They love each other dearly and play games most of the time. Rough-house is their favourite game and wrestling is very popular with them. The bulldog is such a good-natured old chap. And what maulings he takes from that lion! The poor old dog lies as patiently