NATURA1 HISTORY". 



Strong is the lion like a coal 

 His eyeball like a bastion's mole 

 His chest against the foes. SMART. 



208. What anatomical features of the carnivora exhibit a 

 remarkable adaptation to their modes of life ? 



As they feed on living animals, they are generally swift to 

 pursue ; and, as well as being armed with canine teeth, have strong 

 talons, adapted for seizing their prey. These talons are retractile, 

 that is, they are capable of being drawn in between the toes, by 

 which they are protected from being blunted by contact with the 

 ground. Their sight is keen, and even more so by night than by 

 day. Their senses of hearing and of smell are highly developed ; 

 their nostrils are studded with whiskers, which are susceptible of 

 the slightest impression of touch, and their feet are padded, so that 

 they can tread noiselessly. 



209. Why is the lion provided with such a large mane ? 



The formidable clothing is with difficulty penetrated by an 

 ordinary weapon. When the animal is prowling, or using only his 



ordinary powers of locomo- 

 tion, in the use of which he 

 is generally slow and majestic, 

 his mane lies a considerable 

 way over the back, hangs 

 down over the shoulders, and 

 there protects the powerful 

 muscles, which put his de- 

 str.' ctive arm in motion, from 

 all changes of temperature, 

 so that they are never stiffened 

 .v''-'^in.^^ by c l c l> or relaxed by heat, 

 ^ even when the animal finds 

 it necessary to prowl in the open deserts during the heat of the 

 day, or in the dead of night. 



210. Why is the lion termed the king of the forest ? 

 Because there is a certain majesty in his mien and a nobleness 



in his nature which raise him far above the scale of wild beasts ic 



