66 Q^U A D R U P E D S. 



throws upon its back like a fquirrel. Thefe cats are well known in 

 France; and have been brought into England, under the name of the 

 blue cat, which ill exprefles their colour. 



Another variety is the cat of Angora; larger than the common cat; 

 their hair is^much longer, hangs about their head and neck; fome white, 

 others dun. There are other varieties in this animal, but rather in co- 

 lour than form, as the tortoife-lhell cat, and others. 



THE LION. 



THE Lion, produced under the burning fun of Africa, is the mod 

 terrible, the moft undaunted of animals ; but thofe bred in more 

 temperate climates, or on the upper parts of lofty mountains, are far lefs 

 dangerous, and have neither the ftrength nor ferocity of the lions of 

 Biledulgerid or Zaara, where the plains are covered with burning fands. 

 Happily the fpecics is not very numerous, and feems to be diminilhing 

 as well in Lybia, as in Turkey, Perfia, and the Indies, occafioned by 

 the increafe of mankind, the only animal in nature capable of effedlually 

 contending againft thefe tyrants of the foreft. The arms, even of an 

 Hottentot or a Negro, render them more than a match for this powerful 

 creature. This fuperiority ferves aifo to alarm and difcourage him, for 

 he is brave only in proportion to his former fuccefs. The habit of con- 

 quering renders him intrepid and terrible. Thofe which never experi- 

 enced the power of man, have no apprehenfions. They boldly face him, 

 and feem to brave the force of his arms. Wounds rather provoke their 

 rage, than reprefs their ardour. A fingle lion of the defert will attacic 

 an entire caravan, and, after an obftinate conteft, when overpowered, 

 inftead of flying, he continues to combat, retreating, and facing the 

 enemy till he dies. Whereas the lions which inhabit the peopled coun- 

 tries of Morocco or India, acquainted with human fuperiority, have loft 

 their courage, are feared with a fhout, and feldom attack any but flocks 

 or herds, which women and children are fufiicient to protedl. 



When the lion is bred with domeftic animals, he will play inno- 

 cently and familiarly among them ; and feldom exerts his natural ferocity 

 againfl: his benefadlors. His anger is noble; his courage magnanimous ; 

 his difpofition grateful. He defpifes contemptible enemies, and negleds 

 their infults when he might punifli them. He has been feen to Ipare the 



lives 



