2 Quadrupeds. 



genus by the uniformity of his colour, the mane which 

 decorates the male, and a tuft of hair at the tip of the 

 tail, which conceals a small prickle or claw. 



Lions were formerly found in all the hot and warmer 

 temperate parts of the whole world ; but they are now 

 confined to Africa, and some parts of Asia. The African 

 Lion stands four or five feet high, and his body is from 

 seven to nine feet long. The mane is thick, and some- 

 what curly ; and the colour varies in different parts of 

 Africa, but it is generally of a clear dark brown, deepen- 

 ing in some cases almost iiito black. The Asiatic Lions 

 are smaller than those of Africa, and their colour paler. 

 The Bengal Lion is of a light brown, with a long flow- 

 ing mane ; the Persian Lion is of a sort of cream-colour, 

 with a short thick mane; and the Lion of Guzerat is 

 of a reddish brown, without any mane. These varie- 

 ties have been considered as distinct species by some 

 naturalists. 



All the varieties agree in their habits ; they lie hid in 

 jungles in the long grass, and when aroused either walk 

 quietly and majestically away, or turn and look steadily 

 at their pursuers. Their roar is terrific ; and in a wild 

 state, the animal generally roars with his' mouth close 

 to the ground, which produces a low rumbling noise, 

 like that of an earthquake. The effect is described by 

 those who have heard it, as making the stoutest heart 

 quail ; and the feebler animals, when they hear it, fly in 

 dismay, often in their terror falling in the way of their 

 enemy, instead of avoiding him. Serpents, and some of 

 the larger animals, will, however, fight with Lions, and 

 occasionally kill them ; and Lions, when pursued by man, 

 are sometimes hunted with dogs, but are oftener shot, or 

 speared. Those which are exhibited in menageries have 

 generally been caught in pits. The pit is dug where 

 traces have been discovered of a Lion's path ; and it 

 is then covered with sticks and turf. He is deceived by 

 the appearance of solidity presented by the turf, and 

 attempts to walk over it ; but the moment he sets his 

 foot upon the covering of the trap, it breaks beneath his 

 weight, and he falls into the pit. He is then kept with- 

 out food for several days, shaking the ground with his 



