One lioness was ill , and lay on her bed , looking very pensive , while her mate moved restlessly about her , evidently anxious to do something for her , and much afflicted by her suffering . I liked this lion very much , for , though the biggest , he was very gentle , and had a noble face . The tigers were rushing about , as tigers usually are ; some creeping noiselessly to and fro , some leaping up and down , and some washing their faces with their velvet paws . All looked and acted so like cats that I was n't at all surprised to hear one of them purr when the keeper scratched her head . It was a very loud and large purr , but no fireside pussy could have done it better , and every one laughed at the sound . There were pretty spotted leopards , panthers , and smaller varieties of the same species . I sat watching them a long time , longing to let some of the wild things out for a good run , they seemed so unhappy barred in those small dens . Suddenly the lions began to roar , the tigers to snarl , and all to get very much excited about something , sniffing at the openings , thrusting their paws through the bars , and lashing their tails impatiently . I could n't imagine what the trouble was , till , far down the line , I saw a man with a barrowful of lumps of raw meat . This was their dinner , and as they were fed but once a day they were ravenous . Such roars and howls and cries as arose while the man went slowly down the line , gave one a good idea of the sounds to be heard in Indian forests and jungles . The lions behaved best , for they only paced up and down , with an occasional cry ; but the tigers were quite frantic ; for they tumbled one over the other , shook the cages , and tried to reach the bystanders , just out of reach behind the bar that kept us at a safe distance . One lady had a fright , for the wind blew the end of her shawl within reach of a tiger 's great claw , and he clutched it , trying to drag her nearer . The shawl came off , and the poor lady ran away screaming , as if a whole family of wild beasts were after her . When the lumps of meat were thrown in , it was curious to see how differently the animals behaved . The tigers snarled and fought and tore and got so savage I was very grateful that they were safely shut up . In a few minutes , nothing but white bones remained , and then they howled for more . One little leopard was better bred than the others , for he went up on a shelf in the cage , and ate his dinner in a quiet , proper manner , which was an example to the rest . The lions ate in dignified silence , all but my favourite , who carried his share to his sick mate , and by every gentle means in his power tried to make her eat . She was too ill , however , and turned away with a plaintive moan which seemed to grieve him sadly .
He would n't touch his dinner , but XXXXX down near her , with the lump between his paws , as if guarding it for her ; and there I left him patiently waiting , in spite of his hunger , till his mate could share it with him .
came fed howled lashing lay remained saw screaming see shut