LION 413 



THE LION 

 (Felts leo] 



Ambassa, ABYSSINIAN ; Asced, ARABIC ; Ibulubesi, MATONGA AND 

 MASHANGA ; Imbubi, Ibubesi, AND Ingonyama, SWAZI AND 

 ZULU ; Karamo, M'KUA ; Lendja OR Lendjandnek, GALLA ; 

 Leeuw, CAPE DUTCH ; Libba, SOMALI ; Libbaka, DANAKIL ; 

 Lugwaru, NDOROBO ; Nkango OR Nkalamo, CHILALA AND 

 CHIBISA ; Simba, SWAHILI ; Tau, BASUTO AND BECHUANA ; 

 Tauzv, BAROTSI AND NGAMI ; Zaki, HAUSA. 



All the animals referred to in the preceding pages are members of 

 the great order Ungulata, or hoofed group, in which the toes (seldom 

 more than four in number) are either encased in hoofs or protected by 

 flat, hoof-like nails. With few exceptions, the species remaining for 

 consideration belong to the Carnivora, in which the toes (often five in 

 number on the fore-feet) terminate in sharp claws. Other important 

 characteristics are afforded by the teeth, which are more or less 

 modified for the needs of a diet composed largely or exclusively of 

 flesh ; one characteristic feature of the land-members of the order 

 being the pair of so-called flesh, or carnassial, teeth in each jaw, which 

 bite against one another, and in the more advanced types have an 

 action comparable to that of the blades of a pair of scissors. 



The members of the cat tribe, or Felidce, which include the lion 

 and the leopard, may be regarded as the most advanced type of 

 Carnivora, as is attested by the short and rounded head, the reduced 

 number and highly modified characters of the teeth, and the strongly 

 curved claws, which can be more or less completely retracted within 

 special protective sheaths. The carnassial teeth have a perfect scissor- 

 like action. The total number of teeth is 30, of which 16 belong to 

 the upper, and 14 to the lower jaw. The carnassial in the upper jaw 

 is a premolar (that is to say it has a milk-predecessor), and has a small 

 molar behind it, whereas in the lower jaw it is a molar (having no milk- 

 predecessor), and has no tooth behind it. The reduction of the molars 

 to a single pair in each jaw is very characteristic of the Felid<, as is 

 also the circumstance that the three pairs of incisors, or front teeth, in 

 the lower jaw are placed in the same transverse line. In the upper 

 jaw the carnassial tooth has three lobes to its cutting blade, and a 

 small tubercle on the inner side ; but the lower carnassial consists only 



