136 Carnivora Fissipedia. 



The male of the species possesses a mane which gives 

 the full-grown animal a majestic appearance. The mane 

 is usually black or brown, and sometimes grows beyond 

 the forelegs and is a protection to the male lions when 

 fighting. The mane begins to grow when the animal is 

 about three years old and is fully developed by the time it 

 is five or six years of age. The small ears of the Lion 

 are black or dark brown. The canine teeth are two 

 inches long and in the man-eaters they are blunted or 

 broken. The full-grown male will weigh five hundred and 

 fifty pounds and upwards ; but the Lioness, which is much 

 smaller and has no mane, will weigh only two hundred 

 pounds, or even less. There are two marked species of 

 the Lion; the Leo-africanus and the Leo-asiaticus, but 

 there are several varieties of each. The Lion is principally 

 sought for its skin, although the living animals are valuable 

 for menageries and zoological collections, A live male 

 Lion is worth from $1,500 to $2,000; the skins bringing 

 about one-tenth of that amount. The Lioness is much 

 less valuable. 



The Lions from different districts show considerable 

 variation in size, color and other external characteristics. 

 The Germans distinguish them as Berberlowen, Kaplowen. 

 Massailowen, Persicher Lowen, Lowen von Guzzerat and 

 so on to the end of the list. The zoologists dvide the 

 different local representatives of the Felis-leo into the 

 following sub species : leo-barbarus, leo-capensis, leo- 

 senegalensis, leo-somaliensis, leo-massaicus, leo-kamptii, 

 leo-persicus and leo-goojratensis. 



The Cape Lion is now seldom seen near the Cape or in 

 the Orange Free State, its habitat having been crowded 

 back. The Guzerat Lion, which is the largest represen- 

 tative of the family, and the Persian Lion, the smallest of 

 the tribe, have also become rare. The "Man Eaters" are 

 principally found among the long geared Massai Lions of 

 Central East Africa. The Cape Lion is distinguished by 

 its long dark mane, the now almost extinct Algerian Lion 

 alone surpassing it in this respect. The Northwest African 

 Lion is a smaller variety that is characterized by its 

 orange color and yellow mane. 



