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 

 firinly 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 paii-s of males I have mentioned above 

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

 cubhood." These observations, wliich 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 distingiiishing between 

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

 countiy, 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 prettj^ 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 Jilatabeleland and Mashonaland, where .scarcely a thom-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 countr}^ wliich is 

 tliickly covered WTith thorn-jungle. The vai'iation 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 equallj- hairy : but they must be veiy rare, otherwise I shoidii 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 usualh" 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 gro-wth of mane invariably to be obseiwed in 



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



taken fi-om such captive specimens, it is obvious that an exaggerated idea of the 



size and beauty of the mane is commonly current. 



„ ^. Tlw? literatu-re relating to the habits of lions is so extensive that 



Habits. . , - 



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



