popular JBtctifluarji at &mmat*tt ^attire. 381 



most attention to the natural note of this I It is in Africa, however, that he reigns su- 

 bird must be well aware that its native strains \ preme among the weaker quadrupeds, and 

 are more delightful than any iii which it I exerts his power to the greatest extent. A 

 is capable of being instructed. Linnets, | Lion of the largest size has been found to 

 says Bewick, are frequently seen in flocks ; measure about eight feet from the nose to 

 during the winter ; and their assembling j the tail, and the tail itself about four feet : 

 with other kinds of small birds is the sure I the general colour is a pale tawny, still paler 

 presage of a coming storm. They may be or more inclining to white beneath : the 

 caught in clap-nets during the summer | head is very large, the ears rounded, the face 

 months ; but flight-birds are most plentiful j covered with short or close hair ; the upper 

 about the beginning of October. They feed [ part of the head, the neck, and shoulders 

 on various seeds, and are particularly fond : coated with long shaggy hair, forming a 

 of linseed ; from which circumstance, it is ! pendent mane ; on the body the hair is short 

 said, they derive their name. I and smooth ; and the tail is terminated by 



In alluding to the domestic attachments I a tuft of blackish hair. The Lioness is smaller 

 of some species of birds, the Journal of a than the Lion, has no mane, and is of a 

 Naturalist thus speaks of the Linnet : " This whiter cast beneath. During the day the 

 songster is no solitary visitor of our dwellings: Lion usually slumbers in his retreat ; and as 

 it delights and lives in society, frequenting \ night sets in, he rouses from his lair, and 

 open commons and gorsy fields, where ; begins his prowl. Being of the cat tribe, his 

 several pairs, without the least rivalry or , eyes are incapable of bearing a strong light ; 

 contention, will build their nests and rear ! the night is therefore his proper time for 

 their offspring in the same neighbourhood, ' action. 



twittering and warbling all the day long. I Much has been written respecting a sharp 

 This duty over, the families unite, and I prickle, or corneous process, concealed in the 

 form large associations, feeding and moving j tuft of hair at the extremity of the Lion's 

 in company, as one united household ; ) tail, with which he was said to lash himself 

 and, resorting to the head of some sunny tree, | when angry, or to arouse his dormant rage, 

 they will pass hours in the enjoyment of the | Homer, Lucan, and Pliny had so described 

 warmth, chattering with each other in a low i him : but though they appeared to have no 

 and gentle note ; and they will thus regu- j doubt of his lashing his sides with that object, 

 larly assemble during any occasional bright j they did not advert to this peculiarity of 

 gleam throughout all the winter season, caudal structure. Didymus Alexandrinus, 

 ' and still their voice is song,' which, heard 

 at some little distance, forms a very pleasing 

 concert, innocent and joyous. The Linnet 

 is the cleanliest of birds, delighting to dabble 

 in the water, and dress its plumage in every 

 little rill that runs by. The extent of voice 

 in a single bird is not remarkable, being 

 more pleasing than powerful ; yet a large 

 field of furze, in a mild sunny April morn- 

 ing, animated with the actions and cheering 

 music of these harmless little creatures, 

 united with the bright glow and odour of 

 this early blossom, is not visited without 

 gratification and pleasure." 



LION. (Felts leo.) This most noble as 

 well as most formidable of all carnivorous 

 animals is chiefly distinguished by the pre- 

 sence of a full flowing mane in the male, a commentator on the ' Iliad,' however, 

 tt ? < L b W lfted ^ and * le < llsa l>l >ett n ce j having found a black homy prickle among 

 of the feline markings in both sexes before the hair of the tail i mme diatey conjectured 

 they arrive at maturity. The Lion is prm- that he had ascertained the (* cau J se of the 

 cipally an inhabitant of the interior wilds of 8tirnulus when the anima i flourishes that 

 Africa but is also found, though far less mem ber in defiance of his enemies. The 

 plentifully, m the hotter regions of Asia. su bject afterwards remained unnoticed for 



centuries, till at length Blumenbach verified 

 the fact of its existence, although lie did not 

 admit that it could produce the effect attri- 

 buted to it by the ancient scholiast. He 

 remarked, indeed, that the tail was termi- 

 nated by a horny prickle, surrounded at its 

 base by an annular fold of the skin, and so 

 buried in the tuft of hair that its use for the I 

 purpose stated could only be imaginary. I 

 Since that time it has been clearly proved, | 

 by the examination of Lions, both living j 

 and dead, that there is occasionally present i 

 at the extreme tip of the tail, a horny prickle, i 

 scarcely three-eighths of an inch in length, ' 

 which is altogether unconnected with the 



I.ION. (FEIJ3 LEO.) 



