THE LIONf. 



Felis Leo AUCTORUM. 



PLATE I. IL & III.* MALE III. FEMALE AND YOUNG. 



Leo, AE*>V, of the ancients Felis Leo of modern Natural- 

 ists. Type of the Genus Leo, Dr Leach. 



IF we measure the station of the animals belong- 

 ing to this group by their size and prowess, the 

 Lion will undoubtedly hold the first ; and by all its 

 describers it has been allowed that place. Nume- 

 rous figures of this formidable cat have been given 

 in the various illustrated works on natural history, 

 and, although they convey to us a certain knowledge 

 of the form and appearance of the animal, they fall 

 far short of our idea of the Lion roaming free and 

 uncontrolled in his own deserts. The limited size 

 of the accompanying illustrations is against any im- 

 provement in this department ; but we have selected 

 for our copies the plates of Marescball, Frederic Cu- 

 vier, and Edwards, which we consider generally cha- 

 racteristic. 



j- The figures in this volume are drawn without regard 

 to the proportional size of the species, but the dimensions 

 of each are given in the descriptions. A proportional scale 

 wrould have reduced the lesser animals to a very small size. 



