180 I'ROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.05 



excellent flesh, although fed only 10 pounds of beef, but sometimes, after bolting 

 her own iwrtion, she would rob another lioness of part of its food. She was 

 heavily infested with ascaris worms. She was the youngest of the three lion- 

 esses. She was bred several times, but never became pregnant. 



Female No. 2276 (U,S.N.M., No. 197137) was shot December 25, 1913, as she 

 was unfit for exhibition. In November, 1912, she was removed to a hospital 

 cage on account of her difficulty in walking. She ate well and remained in 

 excellent flesh, but the trouble continued to increase until she was killed. The 

 autopsy did not show any serious lesions. She was given but 10 pounds of 

 beef per day. She came in heat several times, but would not allow the male to 

 approach her. 



Female No. 2360 (U.S.N.M., No. 199524) died of pericarditis February 14, 1915, 

 about six weeks after the first symptoms of illness were noticed. She was the 

 largest of the lionesses, and her daily ration was 11 pounds of beef. She was 

 bred several times, but did not become pregnant. 



Not knowing just what data you might want, I have given the history with 

 much detail. 



The conspicuous external characteristics which distinguish these 

 McMillan lions (as the five park-reared specimens will hereafter be 

 called) from wdld-killed animals of the same age and from the same 

 region are much darker color, more luxuriant mane, and much longer 

 hair tufts on back of elbows. The skulls are very different in gen- 

 eral proportions. Those of the McMillan lions are much shorter 

 and broader than in wild animals; their zygomatic arches are more 

 wide-spreading, and the bones of the arches are much thicker and 

 more cylindrical. (See pis. 22-25.) These skulls have further- 

 more a greater rostral and mastoid breadth nnd numerous minor 

 distinguishing characters. Only one of the McMillan skulls shows 

 evidence through pathological changes of the life in captivity, and 

 this condition has affected the quality of the bone and not the shape, 

 as the skull agrees in all the relative dimensions with those of other 

 park lions in perfect condition. 



COMPARISON OF McMILLAN LIONS WITH WILD-KILLED SPECIMENS 

 FROM VICINITY OF NAIROBI. 



COLOfi AND ESTEKNAI, ChARACTEKISTICS. 



At the time of their arrival in Washington the McMillan lions 

 were the subject of remark on account of their exceedingly pale 

 coloration. Most of us had been accustomed to the much darker 

 park lions, usually seen in captivity, and these new arrivals seemed 

 particularly beautiful animals because of the strange pale grayish 

 buff coloration, which was, as a matter of fact, the normal coloration 

 of the subspecies to which they belonged. Wlien, after the death 

 of the animals, the skins reached the museum, the great darkening 

 of the general color since their arrival was at once noted. The 

 degree of color change is in direct relation to the period of life in 

 Washington. In the following notes on color the skins have been 



