THE LION 



in 



The mane of the male gives ' the King of beasts ' a very 

 imposing appearance, but in a wild state few animals 

 possess the luxuriant adornment that is quite commonly 

 seen in menagerie-bred animals. On the other hand, the 

 free animal is far more alert and active, and is particularly 

 bigger and stronger in the hind quarters than the captive 

 specimen. There is, too, a marked difference in the eye. 

 That of the captive breed is brown, not unlike that of a 

 dog, but in the wild creature it is yellow, scintillating with 

 fire, and strikingly luminous even after death. 



Though in different regions it may differ very consider- 

 ably in size and coloration, there is really only one species 



SKELETON OF THE LION. 

 (About one-eighteenth natural size.) 



of Lion, whether in Africa or Asia. It was formerly 

 thought that the black-maned and the yellow-maned 

 animals were distinct species ; but a Lioness in the same 

 litter will often have black and yellow-maned cubs. 



The Lion is essentially an African animal, although its 

 range extends into parts of Asia, including Persia, India, 

 and some portions of China. The Indian Lion at least 

 is making rapid strides towards extinction. For a century 

 and a half the country has been occupied largely by British 

 troops and an ever-increasing number of Government 

 officials and white traders. The sport-loving Briton has 

 made relentless war upon the larger Carnivores, one cavalry 



