THE LION. 



ii v. Laor 



Mr. Cumming encountering four Lions, of whom he killed two. 



The Lion stands at the head of the wild beasts. His noble and dignified bearing, the terrific power 



com pressed into his comparatively small frame, and the deep majesty of his voice, have gained for him the 



n me of " King of Beasts." The Lion inhabits Africa and certain parts of Asia, such as portions of 



.'• :-.i!iia and Persia, and some parts of India. It varies in appearance according to the locality, but there is 



doubt that there is but one species. 



'■Ye are indebted to Mr. Cumming for many interesting notices of this noble animal, observed during his 



fence in Southern Africa, and from his book many extracts will be given in the course of this work. 



iy his cool and daring courage he has been enabled to watch the habits and actions of the most ferocious 



s in the depths of their own haunts. 



The Lion is barely four feet 

 high, and eight in length, yet 

 he can, with little difficulty, 

 dash the giraffe to the earth, or 

 overcome the powerful buffalo. 

 He has been known to carry 

 off a heifer in his mouth, and 

 although incumbered with such 

 a burden, to leap a broad dyke, 

 apparently with the greatest 

 ease. 



Ko animal willingly molests 

 I he Lion, and there are but 

 very few which he cannot over- 

 come. The rhinoceros *; ml 

 elephant are almost the only 

 quadrupeds he dares not med- 

 dle w r ith, but he does not seem 

 to stand in much fear of them 

 Gnoos, zebras, and antelopes, 

 seem to be his favorite prey, 

 (44) 



African Lion. 



