112 



(\ssi:u;s POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



Tll:U) (IK TIIK I.KIX OK SKN.NAAK. FRONT FACE. 



\iivmeiy snmll. Nn such structure could be detected liy Mr. Wood* afi belonging to any living 



in.li\i>lii:il in tin- Sociel y's menagerie. In (lie leopard, therefore, as in tin; lion, it appears to lie only oc- 

 casionally presen t. lu both it is seated at the extreme tip of tlie tail, mid is altogether unconnected with 

 the terminal caudal vertebra. From the narrowness and shape of its base, the circumference of which is 



far too small to allow of its being fitted like a cap 

 on the end of the tail, it appeared to Mr. Woods 

 rather to be inserted into the skin, like the bulb of a 

 bristle or a hair, than to adhere to it by the margin, 

 as described by M. Desliayes. Mr. Woods' conclusion 

 was, that it is difficult to conjecture the use of this 

 prickle, but that it could not be important; for, 

 to say nothing of its small size and envelopment 

 in the fur, the majority of individuals are from 

 its slight adhesion soon deprived of it for the 

 remainder of their lives. That it was a stimulus 

 to anger was, of course, out of the question. 



The opening of the lion's mouth is of great 

 extent in proportion to the size of the animal. In 

 travelling menageries it has long been a custom, 

 " more honoured in the breach than the observance," 

 however, for a keeper to thrust his head into a lion's 

 mouth a practical proof of its capacity to the 

 no small amusement of some, and the equal terror 

 of others, among the gaping spectators. The 

 muscles which move the lower jaw are also of great 

 bulk, and the point on which they immediately 

 act is brought so far forwards, in consequence of the breadth and shortness of the muzzle, as to give 

 them i lie highest degree of attainable force. 



There is yet one peculiar distinction of the lion, as well as of all animals of the wune family, which 

 deserves particular attention. The 

 most obtuse of their senses is that 

 of taste. According to Desmoulins, 

 the lingual nerve of the lion is not 

 larger than that of a middle-sized 

 dog. The tongue of all animals of 

 the cat kind is an organ of mas- 

 tication, as well as of t 

 Whatever llesh a lion's teeth leave 

 on a bone is scraped away" by the 

 sharp and horny points, inclining 

 backwards, of his tongue. 



The roar of a lion, according 

 to Burchell, sometimes resembles 

 Hie sound which is heard at the 

 moment of an earthquake; and is 

 produced by laying his head on 

 Hie -round, and uttering a half- 

 ''"-] gn-wl, by which means the 

 noise is eo, m .yed along the earth. 



' '""taut it is h,,,rd by (he animals reposing in the plains, they start, up in alarm, fly in all 

 rush into the danger which they seek to avoid. This fearful sound is produced 

 c sixe of || 1( . larynx-the part of the throat that forms the upper part of the 

 > ., I ,,f live ,,,rlil 



I 'I 



IIF.AD OF TIIF. I.KIX OF SF.NNAAR. PROFILE. 



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 "'" '""l|.ipe. 



