CLASS MAMMALS: ORDER CAENIVOEA. 



Fig. SO. 



31 



Tongtte of a Carnivorous Animal. 



The family is classified into genera according to 

 their mode of life : 



FELIDxE. 



The Lion is known as the " King of Beasts," more from 

 his majestic appearance than any nobleness of disposition.! 

 The tail is tufted, while the neck of the male is ornamented 

 with a flowing mane that in some varieties reaches nearly to 

 the ground. J His tawny, uniform color, closely correspond- 



* Zoologists have described different, species of the lion, but they are now con- 

 sidered only geographical varieties distributed over Africa and southern Asia. 



t Livingstone and GeVard pronounce him cruel and cowardly. He secures his 

 prey by lying in ambush till it comes within reach of his terrible bound, and if the 

 first spring faib, like the tiger, he sneaks back to his covert ashamed and disap- 

 pointed. In fact his speed is too slow to permit his overtaking his game. 



$ It is asserted by some travelers that the roar of the lion is terrific beyond 

 description, while others declare it to resemble the discordant cries of the ostrich. 

 Probably the degree of fear aroused colors the narration. Since the lion's larynx is 

 relatively larger than that of any other mammal, there may be no exaggeration in the 

 statement that its roar sometimes shakes the ground like an earthquake, and carries 

 dread to every animal within hearing. 



