4 2 Lloyd's natural history. 



" From being so constantly hunted, Lions have almost left 

 the open plains, and betaken themselves chiefly to the forests, 

 where the numerous thorn-bushes must drag out the best part 

 of their manes, until all, except the very old Lions, cease by 

 degrees to have any mane left. This is supposed to be the 

 reason of the ' Maneless Lion of Guzerat ' being considered a 

 distinct species. 



" Lions wander considerably, travelling all night, and lying 

 up in the daytime at certain, to them, well-known resting- 

 places. They often go in company, as many as six or more 

 being at times together, and seem to keep to the same rounds 

 in travelling. From this cause the above-named friend told me 

 that his shikari used to watch over a few well-known halting- 

 places of the Lions, and bring him news of a fresh arrival, 

 when he would ride out to the spot, shoot the Lion, and again 

 in a few days another Lion would be reported as having taken 

 up its quarters in the self-same bush or den, where it also 

 would be killed. Once he described how his hunter, while 

 they were following up the fresh prints of a Lion, knelt down 

 to look under a thick bush. After a very long silent pause, 

 the man withdrew his head from the bush, when his counten- 

 ance was observed to be green. The poor fellow had all 

 this time been staring at a Lion asleep, face to face, at almost 

 kissing distance ; having been stricken dumb and dazed, he 

 could merely make a few signs by pointing at the bush, where 

 the Lion was shot while asleep. 



" When travelling and wandering over the country in this 

 manner, Lions will put up for the day under any kind of 

 shelter, for I have known two turned out from under a hay- 

 stack, while cane-fields form a temporary refuge. Their usual 

 course is through large patches of dry grass, extending often 

 for many miles, and preserved for feeding cattle. These ex- 

 tensive tracts help to hide the Lions in their journey from 



