LIONS. 155 



of America is altogether different ; therefore, it may be 

 said that only Central Asia and almost all Africa are 

 traversed by him. Formerly the eastern boundary of 

 Europe scarcely formed a limit to his presence. The 

 Arabian literature is full of allu^ons to him, and the 

 Holy Scriptures constantly attest his presence in Syria 

 during the times in which they were written. 



The beauty of the lion's mane is well known. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Gordon Gumming, its colour varies with 

 age, being fulvous and bright when young, black when 

 the animal is in his full strength, and grisly with old 

 age. There has been, however, a species recently dis- 

 covered in Guzerat, which has but little or no mane ; it 

 also has shorter limbs and tail, the latter having a 

 larger brush at the end. It is bold, commits great 

 havoc among the cattle, and is supposed to have been 

 driven out of Cutch by the practice adopted by the 

 natives of burning their grass. A nail or prickle at the 

 end of a lion's tail is often found, but has nothing to do 

 with the caudal vertebrae. It is probably a hardened 

 piece of skin, or a mass of agglutinated hairs, in the 

 manner of horn. It comes off with only a slight touch. 



Lions come to their full strength at five years, but 

 live a long time ; for instance, one from the Gambi'u 

 was proved to be sixty-three years of age. They sleep 

 by day and feed by night, lap their drink, and delight 

 in coming forth in the midst of furious storm, when 

 they add their mighty roars to those of the elements. 

 Seldom does a tempest rage in tropical Africa but its 

 fearful sounds are increased by the din of wild animals, 

 that of the lion being heard above all others. Countless 

 are the histories of his depredations, and numerous are 

 the daring and gallant exploits performed by Europeans 



