LION (FELIS LEO). 127 



LION (Felis leo). 



Native Names. 



Chinyanja Mkango. Chibisa ~\ 



Chiyao Lisimba. Chilala > Nkalamu. 



Chikunda Mpondoro. Chisenga ^ 



Zulu (Ngoni) . . . Ngwenyama. Chikunda (of Loangwa). Pondola. 



Chitonga Khalamu. Chiwemba . : Nkalamu. 



Swahili Simba. 



Food. 



Especially fond of buffalo, zebra, and eland, but not above killing any of the 

 smaller game, and partial to pig and warthog. They break into kraals to kill cattle, 

 goats, and pigs. They will also eat porcupine, in fact anything when really hungry. 



In districts thickly populated (where there is little game) and at seasons during 

 which they find game difficult to stalk and kill, they will often take to man killing. 



An old woman going down to draw water towards evening is very often a 

 victim, or even hoeing in the fields during the daytime. 



They will occasionally take dogs, and are said, like most carnivorous animals, to 

 eat locusts when a swarm settles. Especially fond of donkeys, so these ought to be 

 enclosed at nights if taken. 



Spoor. 



Much larger than that of leopard. The spoor of the lion is considerably larger 

 than that of the lioness. The forefoot is rounder, and as a rule better defined than 

 the hind, as he is much heavier in the forequarters. 



Claw marks do not show unless the animal is about to spring, and then they 

 cut deeply into the ground tearing up earth and grass. 



If he was suddenly frightened he might shoot out his claws, and they would 

 show in the spoor. 



Note that in the lion and all cat-like animals the spoor of the forefoot is rounder, 

 and that of the hind narrower though often longer. 



Habitat. 

 Wander about in search of game, frequently following a herd of buffalo or eland, 

 and where these animals are found there will generally be a few lions in the vicinity. 

 They travel long distances at night in search of game. 

 They do not care for thorny country much if better can be found near. 



