Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1899 — A Quarter of a Ton of Lion. [ARTICLE]

A Quarter of a Ton of Lion.

“What does a lion weigh?” Ask that question of any acquaintance, and see what he will say. Those who know the look of the king of beasts best, and how small his lithe body really is, will probably come furthest away from the truth. About 300 to 350 pounds Is a usual estimate. But this is below the mark. A full-grown lion will tip the scale at no less than 500 pounds. Five hundred and forty pounds Is the record for an ordinary lion. His bone is solid and heavy as Ivory. The tiger runs the lion very close. A Bengal tiger, killed two years ago by an English officer, scaled 520 pounds. A tiger of this size has, however, considerably greater muscular strength than the biggest lion. Few people know that a grizzly bear can give points to any other carnivorous animal in point of strength. A grizzly bear weighing just four hundredweight has been watched carrying a heifer of more than two-thirds its own weight for two miles up the most steep and rugged mountain side, and this without pausing for one instant for rest The grizzly bear is the largest and most powerful of all the bear tribe, but his cousin, the cinnamon bear, runs him very close; and the big white polar bear, though not really so dangerous a customer, is capable of performing the most extraordinary feats of strength. A polar bear has been seen to move with his paws a bowlder six men had with difficulty put in position to guard a cache of provisions.—Boston Traveler.