268 plint's natural HISTOEY. [Book VIII. 



are various opinions on this point, as to whether it is through 

 some peculiar disposition of the animal, or merely by accident, 

 that their fury is thus soothed by addressing them. As to 

 what is alleged, too, about serpents, that they can be drawn 

 from their holes by singing, and thus be made to jdeld them- 

 selves up to death, the truth or falsity of it has not by any 

 means been satisfactorily ascertained.* 



The tail of the lion gives indication of the state of his feelings, 

 just as the ears do in the horse ; for these are the distinguishing 

 signs which Nature has given to each of the most generous of 

 animals. Hence it is that, when pleased, the tail is without 

 motion, and the animal fawns upon those who caress him ; a 

 thing, however, that very rarely happens, for his most fre- 

 quent state is that of rage. He begins by beating the earth 

 with his tail ; and as he becomes more furious, he lashes his 

 sides, as if trying to excite himself. His greatest strength 

 is situate in the breast. From every wound that he makes, 

 whether it is with his claws or his teeth, a black blood issues.*^ 

 When his hunger is satisfied, he becomes harmless. The ge- 

 nerous disposition of the lion is more especially manifested in 

 time of danger ; not only at the moment when, despising all 

 weapons, he long defends himself solely by the terror which he 

 inspires, and protests, as it were, that he is compelled thus to de- 

 fend himself, but when he rises at last, not as though constrained 

 by danger, but as if enraged by the mad folly of his adversaries. 

 This, however, is a still more noble feature of his courage — 

 however numerous the dogs and hunters may be that press 

 upon him, as he makes his reti'eat he comes to a stand every now 

 and then upon the level plain, while he is still in view, and 

 scowls contemptuously upon them : but as soon as ever he has 

 entered the thickets and dense forests, he scours away at the 

 swiftest possible pace, as though aware that the place itself 

 will shelter his shame. When in pursuit, the Kon advances with 

 a leap, but he does not do so when in flight. When wounded, 

 he discovers, with wonderful sagacity, the person who struck the 

 blow, and will find him out, however great may have been the 



* In various countries, and more especially in Eg)T)t, the magicians pro- 

 fess to cliarm serpents by incantations ; and it appears that they are able to 

 acquire some power over them by imitating their natural cries. Cuvier 

 informs us, that Geofi'roi St. Hilaire had witnessed the fact, and was hira- 

 6elf able to produce the effect. — B. 



* Aristotle says, a matter of a yellow colour, Ixt^p^S ujxpoi. 



