THE LION. 



113 



The lie in docs not disdain to prey on reptiles, which may lie in his path, nor on a goat, or other 

 small animal ; but he prefers the open plain, where large herds of antelopes and other creatures teed 

 together. As he is an object of unceasing dread, strength alone would not enable him to make them 

 his prey, and hence he is adapted to advance upon them in silence and stealth. 



Everyone must have remarked the whiskers on a cat's upper lip. The use of these, in a state of 

 nature, is very important. They are organs of touch, attached to a bed of close glands under the skin, 

 and each of these long and still' hairs is connected with the nerves at the lip. The hairs are in them- 





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THE LION, THE TlliKK, ANL) THE JAOUAI1. 



solves insensible, but their slightest contact with any object is thus felt most distinctly by the animal. 

 They stand out, on each side, in the lion, as well as in the common cat, .so that, from point to point, 

 they are equal to the width of the animal's body. 



The use of these long hairs to a lion stealing through a covert of wood, will at once be perceived. 

 They indicate to him, through the nicest feeling, any obstacle which may present itself to the passive 

 of his body; they prevent the rustle of boughs and leaves, which would give warning to his prey, 

 were he to attempt to pass through too close a bush ; and thus greatly aid his noiseless passage to his 



VOL. II. lj 



