The Lion 87 



attacking a caravan, the statement is absurd. Lions and 

 troops of lions are described by many observers — Le 

 Vaillant, Gumming, Oswell, Harris, Davidson, Kerr — as 

 having forayed upon encampments in various ways, but 

 there is no authentic account of any incident such as 

 Buffon relates. 



What he says about the animal's deficiency in sight and 

 scenting power is not supported in any way by facts. 

 There is nothing in the creature's anatomy to warrant 

 such an assertion. Its olfactory apparatus is well devel- 

 oped, and as it is a beast of prey, and belongs to a family 

 distinguished for keenness of scent, there is no reason to 

 think that this function does not correspond with its struc- 

 ture. Neither is there anything, so far as the writer 

 knows, in the better class of observations made upon lions, 

 to indicate any deficiency in this respect. With reference 

 to sight, if Buffon meant more than that they, as being 

 nocturnal in habit, are at a disadvantage in the sun's glare, 

 it was, we must believe, a mistake upon his part. Their 

 organ of sight is structurally of a high order ; it is so placed 

 that the range of vision is large, and no good authority has 

 disparaged the lion's far-sightedness, or the defining power 

 of his eye. 



None of the great cats is, however, strictly nocturnal 

 except in places where they are constantly pursued. Lions 

 frequently stalk or drive game while the sun is up ; they 

 see perfectly well during these hours, and it is evidently 

 a mistake to give the primary importance commonly at- 

 tributed to it to a peculiarity of vision which the FelidcB 

 have in common with other classes. 



