Messrs Cheek and Joiles on the Anatomy of the Lion. 281 



occasionally observed, that the area of the great vessels in weak, 

 leucophlegmatic, and old persons is considerably more capacious 

 than in the young and robust.* 



From the relative size of the cavity of the ventricles and the 

 area of the blood-vessels, it is deducible that the velocity of the 

 circulation must be greater in the lion than in man ; and Wolff, 

 alluding to the debility arising from the retardation of the circu- 

 lation in the vessels of the surface, when distended by warmth, 

 and the contrary condition which occurs in cold weather, and to 

 the increased mental excitement caused by the rapidity of the 

 circulation during acute fever, and the cessation of these 

 symptoms after venesection, advances the opinion that agility 

 and ferocity belong to the lion, on account of the peculiarities of 

 its vascular system. But it will be sufficient to remark, that 

 the lion is neither agile nor ferocious, except when in search of 

 food ; he is, on the contrary, sluggish and forbearing. We 

 need not refer to the opinion that he is noble, from his refusing 

 to injure what he cannot use, and would rather ally his fits of 

 agility and ferociousness to temporary changes in the respiratory 

 process, than to any permanent difference in the relative capa- 

 city of the heart and vessels. And, besides, certain graminivora 

 are both agile and ferocious, without possessing this dispropor- 

 tion in the parts of the circulating system. 



We have, however, already extended these notices to too great 

 a length, and must restrict ourselves to the remark, that the gene- 

 rative system presents nothing which seems to require notice, 

 excepting, perhaps, the presence of the transversalis penis, that 

 muscle which has lately attracted so much of the attention of 

 our friend Mr Houston, f 



This muscle is small in the lion ; it arises from the ramus of 

 the pubis and crus penis, and is inserted into a tendon attached 

 to the symphisis pubis, and into the tendon of its fellow of the 

 opposite side ; it certainly passes over the venae dorsales in such 

 a way as to prevent any compression of these vessels. 



In concluding this sketch, it will be sufficient to remark, that 

 though the technicalities of anatomy could not well be supplied 

 by vernacular terms, we have sought to avoid, as far as possible, 

 any scientific detail, which might be tedious to the general 

 reader. 



* It may be here suggested, that whilst, as remarked by Soemmering, the brain 

 in man is larger in proportion to the nerves than in the lower animals, we observed 

 in the lion, that the nerves are small, though the. brain is of considerable size; thus 

 approaching to the condition of the nervous system in man. The small size of the 

 nerves is connected with the fact, that strength and not variety of motion is the 

 characteristic of the muscular development of the lion. 



f We may take this opportunity to say, in reply to Mr Houston's complaints, that 

 we hope he will dispel from his miud the recollection of our having joked him on 

 the revival of this old story. 



VOL. III. 2 N 



