62 Anecdotal Xatitml History. 



from the neck and shoulders, and part of the throat. In 

 the female this mane is wanting. It is remarkable that 

 when young the lion bears dark stripes and spots on 

 its fur, so that a well-marked specimen might easily 

 be mistaken for a tiger-cub. A similar arrangement of 

 colour is found in several animals, such as one or two 

 species of swine, and the Malayan tapir. 



There are various opinions as to the character of the 

 lion. 



Some hold him up as a model of generosity and 

 courage, sparing the weak, but fighting the strong with 

 the utmost courage. Other writers represent him as 

 a mean, sneaking animal, afraid to face an armed man, 

 and preferring to obtain his prey by stealth rather than 

 by open warfare. Others, again, consider that his 

 temper is uncertain, and that one day he will fight 

 with great courage and ferocity, while on another he 

 will fly in terror from a comparatively insignificant 

 foe. 



It is certain that the courage of even the same lion 

 seems to vary at different times, and that on one 

 occasion he will openly attack a number of armed men, 

 while on another he takes refuge in flight before a single 

 savage. 



Like the rest of the cat tribe, the lion is of a very 

 indolent nature except when suffering from the pangs 

 of hunger, and, unless he be in want of a meal, will 

 seldom take the trouble to fight. 



Even when in pursuit of prey, he never takes more 

 exertion than is absolutely necessary for his purpose, 

 but prefers to stalk the quarry until he can creep within 

 five or six yards. One powerful bound and a single 

 blow of his paw then suffices to kill his prey, and he 

 earns his meal with very little active exertion. 



Not that he cannot overtake most animals if he is 

 forced to do so, but, just as the cat prefers to spring 



