164 MAMMALIA — LION. 



His force and muscular power he manifests outwardly by his prodigious 

 leaps and bounds ; by the strong and quick agitation of his tail, which alone 

 is sufficient to throw a man on the ground ; by the facility with which he 

 moA'^es the skin of his face, and particularly that of his forehead, Avhich adds 

 greatly to his physiognomy, or rather to the expression of fury in his counte- 

 nance ; and lastly, by the facility he has of shaking his mane, which is not 

 only bristled up, but moved and agitated on all sides, when he is enraged. 



The largest lions are about eight or nine feet in length, from the snout to 

 the insertion of tlie tail, which is of itself four feet long ; and these large 

 lions are about four or five feet in height. Those of the small size are about 

 five feet and a lialf in length, and three and a half in height. In all her 

 dimensions, the lioness is about one fourth less than the lion. 



The lion is furnished with a mane, which becomes longer in proportion 

 as he advances in age. The lioness, however, is without this appendage at 

 every age. 



Both the ancients and the moderns allow that the lion, when newly born, 

 is in size hardly superior to a weasel ; in other words, that he is not more 

 than six or seven inches long ; and if so, some years at least must necessa- 

 rily elapse before he can increase to eight or nine feet. They likewise 

 mention, that he is not in a condition to walk till two months after he is 

 brought forth ; but, without giving entire credit to these assertions, Ave may, 

 v/ith great appearance of truth, conclude that the lion, from the largeness 

 of lis size, is at least three or four years in groAving, and that, consequently, 

 he mast live seven times three or four years, that is, about tAA^enty-five years. 



I"; is usually supposed that the lion is not possessed of the sense of smell- 

 in j n such perfection as most other animals of prey. It is also remarked 

 that too strong a light incommodes him ; that he seldom goes abroad in the 

 middle of the day ; that he commits all his ravages in the night ; and that 

 AA^hen he sees a fire kindled near a herd or flock, he Avill not A'enture near it ; 

 that though his sight is bad, it is not, however, so faulty as his smell ; and that, 

 unlike the dog or the Avolf, he rather hunts by the former than by the latter. 



The lion, Avhen hungry, boldly attacks all animals that come in his way ; 

 but, as he is very formidable, and as they all seek to avoid him, he is often 

 obliged to hide, in order to take them by surprise. For this purpose he 

 crouches upon his belly, in some thicket, or among the long grass, Avhich is 

 found in many parts of the forest. In this retreat he continues, Avith patient 

 expectation, until his prey comes within a proper distance ; and he then 

 springs after it Avith such force, that he often seizes it at the first bound. If 

 he misses the effort, and in tAvo or three reiterated springs cannot seize his 

 prey, he continues motionless for a time, seems to be very sensible of his 

 disappointment, and waits for a more favorable opportunity. He dcA'ours a 

 great deal at a time, and generally fills himself for tAvo or three days to 

 come. His teeth are so strong that he A^ery easily breaks the bones, and 

 swalloAVs them with the rest of the body. It is reported that he sustains 



