TH LION. 121 



notice. By all zoologists it has been looked upon 

 as a variety of the former ; but, if proved to be dis- 

 tinct, it will stand in our Systems as the Leo Asia- 

 ticus. Temminck calls this the Lion of Persia, with- 

 out alluding to the animals from any other part of 

 the Asiatic continent. It does not, however, vary 

 so much as the African lion, in the different districts 

 which it still inhabits. The most marked distinction 

 is the very pale tint which pervades the whole 

 body, it approaches almost to a fawn-colour, and 

 is paler on the under parts and insides of the legs. 

 The mane is scarcely so ample ; hut Mr Bennet 

 remarks, " it is furnished with a peculiar appendage, 

 in the long hairs, which, commencing beneath the 

 neck, occupy the whole of the middle line of the 

 body below." The size is also somewhat less, and 

 his strength and fierceness are generally held in com- 

 paratively less estimation. 



For the accompanying illustration (Plate III.*) of 

 this animal, we are indebted to the attention of Mr 

 Warwick, of the Surrey Zoological Gardens, who pro- 

 cured for us a characteristic drawing from the pencil 

 of Mr Lear, who is already well known to naturalists 

 by his beautiful illustrations of the Parrots. The fol- 

 lowing note from Mr Warwick accompanied the 

 drawing, which we give in that gentleman's words-, 

 as best pointing out the distinctions of the animals 

 which are now living in the above mentioned es- 

 j tablishment. 



" They were brought as a present for his late Ma- 



