THE LION 363 



the upper flesh-tooth. Thus, whereas in the tiger this tubercle is but little smaller 

 than in the corresponding tooth of the hyaena, figured on p. 356, in the lion it more 

 nearly approaches the condition obtaining in the tooth of an extinct cat, represented 

 in the accompanying figure although it extends nearer to the front edge of the 

 tooth. The skull of an adult male lion may measure as much as thirteen inches in 

 extreme length, with a breadth across the widest part of the cheek bones of nine 

 and one-half inches. 



The present range of the lion includes the whole continent of Africa, from the 

 Cape Colony to Abyssinia and Algeria, although in many of the more civilized dis- 

 tricts the animal is now greatly reduced in numbers, or even 

 completely exterminated. In Asia it is found through Me- 

 sopotamia and South Persia to the northwestern districts of 

 India, being, however, now on the verge of extinction in the 

 latter country. Formerly, even within historic times, the lion 

 had a much more extensive geographical range, extending 

 westward into Syria and Arabia, and ranging over a con- 

 siderable portion of Southeastern Europe, such as Roumania 

 and Greece. This, however, by no means limits the original 

 extent of its range, for bones and teeth found in the cav- TH E LEFT UPPER 

 eras and superficial deposits of Western Europe prove that FLESH -TOOTH (p) 



,., " .,. ., . ., , AND MOLAR (m) OF 



lions, which appear specifically undistinguishable from the AN EXTINCT SAB RE- 



existiug form, once roamed over Germany, France, Italy, TOOTHED TIGER. 



Spain, and the British Isles. The ancient prehistoric lions of The projection on the 



Western Europe were in all probability exterminated by the side of the lower part of 



the figure is the inner 



cold of the glacial period ; but the destruction of those infesting tubercle of the flesh-tooth. 



Eastern Europe and parts of Western Asia during the historic 



epoch was probably effected, at least to a considerable extent, by human agency. 



In South Africa lions are now scarce in the districts to the southward of the 

 Orange river, but are locally abundant in the regions farther north, such as 

 Mashonaland. Although it is quite probable that its range may once have embraced 

 the countries of Afghanistan and Baluchistan, the lion is now quite unknown in 

 Asia to the northward of India. Writing some years ago of the habitats of the 

 lion in Western Asia, Canon Tristram observes that ' ' the Arabs say it is found in 

 Arabia ; but of this we have at least no evidence. Occasionally it crosses the 

 Euphrates, and a few years ago a lion's carcass was brought into Damascus. Be- 

 tween the Lower Tigris and Euphrates they still abound. Mr. L,ayard saw them 

 frequently, and during his excavations in the neighborhood of Babylon, found fresh 

 traces of their footsteps almost daily among the ruins. It extends also far higher 

 up, to the jungle of the Khabour, or Chebar, on the upper Tigris, above Mosul and 

 Nineveh (the ancient Chebar), where Layard mentions an Arab being attacked by 

 one, and escaping with the loss of his mare. ' ' 



The late Sir O. B. St. John, as quoted by Mr. Blanford, observes that "lions, 

 which are very numerous in the reedy swamps bordering the Tigris and Euphrates, 

 are found also in the plains of Susiana, the modern Khuzistan, and extend into the 

 mountain country south of Shiraz as far east as longitude 53. I have no accurate 



