66 THE LION. 



well proportioned, and sizeable ; a perfect model of 

 strength, combined with agility : his face is broad, and 

 some have thought that it resembles the human kind ; 

 it is surrounded with a very long mane, which gives it 

 a most majestic appearance : the top of the head, the 

 temples, the cheeks, the under jaw, the neck, the breast, 

 the shoulder, the hinder part of the legs, and the belly, 

 'fere all furnished with long hair, whilst the other part 

 of the body is covered with very short : the tongue of 

 the animal is rough, and beset with prickles ; its eyes 

 are bright and fiery, nor even in death does this terrible 

 look forsake them : the length of the mane increases 

 with its years, yet is neither coarse or rough like that 

 of the horse ; but is of the same pliancy of texture as 

 that which covers the other part of the body : the gene- 

 ral colour of the hair is yellow; and the formation of its 

 eyes resembles a cat's; for this reason he seldom ap- 

 pears in open day, but prowls about for food by night, 

 and boldly attacks all animals that come in his way. 



The roar of the lion is so loud and tremendous, that, 

 when re-echoed by the mountains, it resembles the sound 

 of distant thunder, and all the animal creation fly before 

 the sound. This roar is the creature's natural note, for 

 when enraged he has a different growl, which is short, 

 broken, and reiterated ; he then lashes his sides with 

 his tail, erects his mane till it stands up like bristles, 

 and his eye-balls seem to emit sparks of fire. When 

 he is roused, he recedes with a slow proud step, never 

 measures his paces equally, but takes an oblique course, 

 going from one side to the other, and bounding rather 

 than running. When the hunters approach him, they 

 either shoot or throw their javelins, and in this manner 

 disable him before he is attacked by the dogs. He is 

 sometimes taken by pit-falls ; the natives digging a deep 



