FELIs. 159 
with this development are quick of hearing. The communication 
between the two chambers lies in a narrow slit over the seftum, the 
Eustachian tube, ¢, being on the outside of the sep/wm and between it 
and the tympanum or ear drum, 4 
The above are the chief characteristics of the family. For the rest 
we may notice that they have but a rudimentary clavicle imbedded 
among the muscles; the limbs are comparatively short, but immensely 
muscular; the body lithe and active; the foot-fall noiseless; the 
tongue armed with rough papillz, which enables them to rasp the flesh 
off bones, and their vision is adapted for both night and day. 
None of them are gregarious, as in the case of dogs and wolves. 
One hears sometimes of a limited number of lions and tigers being seen 
together, but in most cases they belong to one family, of which the 
junior members have not been “turned off on their own hook” 
as yet. 
No. 200. FELIS LEO. 
The Lion { Jerdon’s No. 103). 
Native Names.—Sher- 
babbar, Singh, Unthia-bagh. 
Hapirat.—Guzerat and 
Central India. 
DESCRIPTION.—The 
lion is almost too well 
known to need description, 
and there islittle difference 
between the Asiatic and 
African animal. It may, 
however, be generally de- 
scribed as_ being distin- 
guished from other Cats 
by its uniform tawny 
colour, flatter skull, which 
gives it a more dog-like 
appearance, the shaggy 
mane of the male, and by 
the tufted tail of bothsexes. 
SizE.— From nose to 
insertion of tail, 6 to 63 
feet); tail,.24 to 3 feet; Felis leo (Indian variety). 
height, 33 feet. 
The weight of one measured by Captain Smee, 8 feet 93 inches, was 
(excluding the entrails) thirty-five stone. This must be the one al- 
luded to by Jerdon, but he does not state the extraction of the viscera, 
which would add somewhat to the weight. 
