THE KA THIA WA H LION. 1 1 



very few measuremonts of the Indian animal are to be found recorded 

 anywhere. Moreover, there is nothing to show that in every instance 

 the measurements were taken in exactly the same way which must 

 have been done for them to be of the slightest value for purposes of 

 comparison. It was stated shortly after Lord Lamington's shoot 

 already referred to, that of the lions shot by his party one, if not two, 

 measured over 11' ! Subsequently it transpired that the measure- 

 ments were taken after the animal or animals had been skinned. I 

 was unable to ascertain whether the measurements stated recorded the 

 length of the skins or of the bodies after the former had been removed, 

 anyhow the measurements are obviously of no value, and it may be 

 regarded as a certainty that a lion of the dimensions stated — the 

 jneasuremeuts being taken in the recognized way before the removal 

 of the skin — never existed in the Gir or anywhere else in India. Of 

 four Gir lions shot and very carefully measured by myself, the total 

 length of the largest was 9-5", the length of the tail being 2'-ll". 

 Two of the others measured, respectively, 9'-l", and 9', both being- 

 younger animals than the first. The one shot by Lord Harris 

 measured 9-7", another by the late Lieut. Percy Hancock was 

 a still finer beast but unfortunately its measurements were not 

 taken. 



In Rowland Ward's Book of Measurements, 3rd edition, mention is 

 made of African lions measuring from 9-1" to 10-5" only, four being 

 10' in length and some ten below 9'- 5" not including lionesses of 

 course, as they are always smaller than the males. In the same book 

 of records, I notice it is recorded, that a •10'-4" lion has a body 

 measurement of 7'-2", a 10' Hon, of 6'-10' and one of 9'-8", a 

 measurement of ^*-^)l^ — this goes to show that the tails vary consider- 

 ably in length and the weight of an animal cannot be judged 

 correctly simply from its total length. Besides abnormally large- 

 sized specimens are to be found in every description of animal life. 

 Moreover, when comparing the whole area of Africa with a small 

 one like that of the Gir Jungle — " a drop in the ocean" — it is by no 

 means extraordinary, that the few larger specimens should have been 

 recorded from Africa, especially as so few measurements of the Indian 

 animal are forthcoming. For a true comparison we must look to the 

 average measurements, and these undoubtedly prove the latter to be 

 every whit as fine a beast as the African. 



