THE LION. 27 



the Family, except the Hunting-Leopard ; and has, therefore, a 

 geographical distribution coextensive with that of the Family, as 

 given above. 



I. THE LION. FELIS LEO. 



Felis leo, Linn., Syst Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 60 (1766) ; Elliot, 

 Monograph of Felidae, pi. i. (1878-83); Blanford, Mamm. 

 Brit India, p. 56 (1888). 



Felis spelcea, Goldfuss, Nova Acta Ac. Cses. Leop.-Car. vol. x. 

 p. 489 (1821); Owen, Brit. Foss. Mamm. p. 161 (1846). 



Felis leo goojratensis, Smee, Trans. Zool. Soc.vol. i. p. 165(1833). 



Leo africanus, Jardine, Naturalist's Library, Felinae, p. 118 



(1834). 

 Leo asiatiats, Jardine, op. cit. p. 121. 

 Leo barbarus, Gray, List Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 39 (1843). 

 Leo nobilis, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 263, and Cat. 



Carniv. Mamm. Brit. Mus. p. 9 (1869). 



(Plates I. and II.) 



Characters.— Distinguished from all the other members of the 

 Family by the presence of a massive mane, of variable length, 

 depending from the neck and sides and crown of the head of 

 the adult ; the female and young being mane-less. Tail about 

 half the length of the head and body, with a large tuft of long 

 hair at the extremity, among which is concealed a small nail-like 

 horny appendage. Pupil of the eye circular when contracted. 

 Colour uniform pale yellowish-brown (tawny), except the tuft 

 at the extremity of the tail, the basal portion of the external 

 surface of the ears, and frequently the tips of the hairs of the 

 mane during middle life, all of which are black. Young cubs 

 usually marked with small dark transverse bands, and a longi- 

 tudinal stripe down the middle of the back, but these mark- 

 ings occasionally breaking up into spots. Faint spots some- 

 times observable on the flanks and under-parts of the adult, 



