362 CARNIVORES. 



to the dark colour of the tips of the hair, was almost black, while the other was 

 reddish-yellow. The skin of the female cub was also of a light colour. Now I 

 firmly believe that the two male cubs would have grown up, the one into a dark- 

 skinned, black-maned lion, the other into a yellow lion, with but little mane ; and 

 further than this, I believe that the two pairs of males I have mentioned above 

 were Cubs of the same litters, and have been hunting in couples since their 

 cubhood." These observations, which have been supplemented by others made on 

 captive specimens, may be considered to definitely settle the question as to the 

 specific unity of all African lions. 



In spite, however, of the impossibility of specifically distinguishing between 

 lions of different coloration, or between those inhabiting different regions of the 

 country, it seems quite probable that the lions of one district may differ to a 

 certain extent in some respects from those of another. Thus it seems pretty well 

 ascertained that the lions from the Cape and Algeria have, collectively, larger and 

 finer manes than those from other districts. Moreover, Gordon Gumming states 

 that the manes and coats of lions inhabiting open, treeless districts, like the great 

 Kalahari desert of South Africa, are fuller and handsomer than in those inhabiting 

 forest districts. It has hence been considered that the manes of forest-dwelling 

 lions are reduced in thickness by being torn by thorns and bushes. This theory 

 is, however, considered untenable by Mr. Selous, who states that the lions of the 

 open plateaux of Matabeleland and Mashonaland, where scarcely a thorn-bush is to 

 be seen, exhibit every degree of variation in regard to the length and colour of 

 their manes, and that a similar variation holds good for the Tati country, which is 

 thickly covered with thorn-jungle. The variation in the length of the mane seems, 

 therefore, at present not accounted for. 



Before leaving this subject, it may be mentioned that, according to the 

 experiences of the hunter from whom we have already so largely quoted, that 

 wild lions at least in the districts over which he shot never have such long and 

 heavy manes or such good coats as the majority of those met with in European 

 menageries. Moreover, while all the wild lions with good manes, which came 

 under the notice of Mr. Selous, had a small tuft of hair on the elbow and another 

 in the armpit, none were seen with the fringe of long hair along the middle of the 

 under-surface of the body, which is so universally present in maned menagerie 

 lions. " I do not say," observes Mr. Selous, " that cases do not occur of wild lions 

 becoming equally hairy ; but they must be very rare, otherwise I should have met 

 with some amongst the large number of skins I have seen. The coat of the wild 

 lion is very short and close, whilst that of lions kept in this country becomes very 

 much longer, and usually of a redder colour than the pale yellow or silvery-grey 

 hue of the wild animal. I could pick out the skin of a menagerie lion from 

 amongst a hundred wild ones. Climate and regular feeding must, I think, have 

 a good deal to do with the luxuriant growth of mane invariably to be observed in 

 lions in confinement." As our pictures and figures of lions are almost invariably 

 taken from such captive specimens, it is obvious that an exaggerated idea of the 

 size and beauty of the mane is commonly current. 



The literature relating to the habits of lions is so extensive that 

 the great difficulty an author has to contend with is in determining 



