THE LION 

 Felis leo, Linn. 



Somali name, Libah or Libbah 



Description. — The general colour of the lion is tawny yellow. 

 In the male there is a more or less distinct mane which may be 

 either tawny yellow, a mixture of tawny yellow and black, or black. 

 The female is maneless. The young cubs and very often the 

 adult animals have spots of the general body colour on the sides 

 and underneath. The tail is furnished with a black tip. The 

 head and jaws are very massive, and it is remarkable to what 

 extent a lion can open his jaws — it is no uncommon sight to see a 

 shikari place his whole head inside a lion's mouth when it has 

 been killed. 



Measurements in the flesh of an adult male and female shot 

 in the Haud by Captain Walford were : 



Length (straight between two pegs 



at nose and tip of tail) 

 Height at shoulders 

 Girth of forearm .... 



Distribution. — The lion used to be found all over Somaliland, 

 but is now seldom seen far distant from the Haud, Nogal Valley, 

 and Ogaden, where he is still plentiful. Lions are rare in British 

 Somaliland, comparatively speaking. They still, however, are 

 known to wander on to the Golis Range and to within 20 miles 

 of Bulbar. 



Habits. — Lions are almost entirely nocturnal in their habits. 

 They are as often seen in numbers as singly. Unless very hungry 

 they usually leave their " kill " an hour or so before dawn and make 



11 



