KING OF LIONS AND OF BEASTS. 409 



admirable practical naturalists that they can imitate the 

 actions and voice of all the wild animals that exist in 

 their vicinity and do so so perfectly that they will 

 charm the most experienced practical observer recog- 

 nise this distinction, namely, that there is a maneless 

 lion, and that it is a distinct breed from the other 

 species found in their land. 



Here, in the Great Thirst Land, in the Kalahari 

 Desert, I believe that the lion attains greater magnitude, 

 in fact, greater perfection than he does anywhere else 

 in the world, except possibly in the A.tlas range of 

 mountains in North Africa. The reason of this is 

 obvious; to support himself he must hunt, and with a 

 due amount of exercise just sufficient to keep his body 

 in a proper state of health he can obtain a sufficiency 

 of animal food. The nature of the country makes this 

 so, while the climate on these table-lands is not ener- 

 vating, but the reverse, making exercise desirable and 

 pleasant. 



The temperature during the day may not unusually 

 rise to 96, but invariably at night, especially towards 

 the morning, descends to 70 or thereabouts. Thus the 

 lion does not lead a life of indolence here, necessity 

 compelling him to seek his food, and not to lie in 

 wait for it. 



On the Nile and other bottom lands, where the 

 vegetation is extremely dense and game abundant, with 

 cover in such luxuriance that places of ambush can 

 everywhere be found, this animal suits himself to 

 circumstances, procures his meal, and sleeps till he 

 again feels the calls of hunger. Day after day is this 

 repeated till it becomes the experience of a lifetime. 

 But that is not the existence which develops muscle, or 



