Thus this savage trait of the lions prevents overproduction, and breeds a hardy and intrepid race.

If by chance or that cardinal feature of animal life--the survival of the fittest--a young male lion escapes to the weaning time, even after that he is persecuted.

Young male lions have been killed and found to have had their flesh beaten until it was a mass of bruises and undoubtedly it had been the work of an old Tom.

Moreover, old males and females have been killed, and found to be in the same bruised condition.

A feature, and a conclusive one, is the fact that invariably the female is suckling her young at this period, and sustains the bruises in desperately defending her litter.
It is astonishing how cunning, wise and faithful an old lioness is.