BOOK VIII.] History of Nature. 25 



and these are much Stronger than those of Africa or Syria. 

 Lions are of two Kinds, the one Short and Compact, with 

 Manes more Curled ; but these are more numerous than 

 those which have long and plain Hair, for the latter despise 

 Wounds. The Males lift up the Leg when they micturate, as 

 Dogs do; they have a strong Breath, and their Bodies also 

 Smell rank. They Drink seldom, and Eat but on alternate 

 Days ; and if they Feed till they are Full they abstain from 

 Meat for three Days. In their Feeding whatever they can 

 Swallow without Chewing goes down whole ; and if they find 

 their Belly not able to receive their Greediness, they thrust 

 their Claws into their Throats to drag it out again, that if 

 they are compelled to fly they may not go away in their Ful- 

 ness. That they Live very long 1 is proved by this Argument, 

 that many of them are found Toothless. Polybius, who 

 accompanied (Scipio) JEmilianus, reporteth that when they 

 are grown Aged they will prey upon a Man, because their 

 Strength will not hold out to pursue Wild Beasts. Then 

 they lie in wait about the Cities of Africa ; and for that cause 

 while he was with Scipio he saw some of them Crucified, 

 that other Lions might be scared from doing the like Mis- 

 chief by fear of the same Punishment. The Lion alone of 

 all Wild Beasts is gentle to those that humble themselves to 

 him ; he spareth those that lie Prostrate ; and when he is 

 furious he dischargeth his Rage upon Men before he setteth 

 upon Women, and never preyeth upon Babes unless it be for 

 extreme Hunger. It is believed in Libya that they have an 

 Understanding of Prayers addressed to them. I have heard 

 as a fact of a Captive Woman of Gaetulia, who was brought 

 back again to her Master, that she had pacified the Violence 



Anim." vi. 31 ; and viii. 33), from whom Pliny seems to have copied, 

 inform us that they abounded in that part of Europe which is between 

 the Achelous and Nessus. Nor is Europe the only part of the world 

 from which the lion has disappeared ; for it is no longer to be found in 

 Egypt, Palestine, or Syria, where it once was evidently far from uncom- 

 mon, as we know from the frequent allusions to it in the Holy Scriptures. 

 Wern.Club. 



1 Aristotle, " Hist. Anim." ix. 69. Went. Club. 



