12 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



feeding or the reverse may perhaps affect the growth of 

 hair to some degree. 



As regards spotting, I have seen lionesses of mature age, 

 in some cases quite old animals, killed, which had very 

 distinctive markings on the limbs and underparts, while 

 others again, out of the same troop, showed no indications 

 whatever of spots. Tail measurements vary somewhat 

 and do not always appear uniformly relative to the length 

 of the body in different individuals. I have seen some 

 lionesses so devoid of rufous tinge that they were almost 

 grey in tone. Individual measurements and weight 

 vary considerably also, and the handsomest beasts are 

 by no means always the biggest. One of the finest 

 maned lions killed on the Sabi was a comparatively 

 small animal, while an immense brute shot farther 

 north had practically no mane at all. Young cubs are 

 covered with soft fur pitted with small dark spots, which 

 begin to fade from the upper parts of the body very early 

 in life. The milk canines are not replaced by the adult 

 teeth until the animals are about a year old, and up to 

 that age the young lion is comparatively helpless as 

 regards fending for himself. 



Three appears to be the usual number of a family ; but 

 I once saw a lioness accompanied by four small cubs, 

 and on another occasion two were met which had seven 

 young animals of perhaps six months old with them. 

 It seems, however, to be exceedingly uncommon for 

 more than one or two of each litter to arrive at maturity, 

 and, seeing that more than two cubs of over a year 

 old are practically never found with one lioness, I should 

 think the majority die before they attain that age, a 

 result possibly due in some degree to teething or other 

 infantile troubles. On two occasions young lions 

 between six and twelve months old have been found 



