168 MAMMALIA—LION. 
THE BENG A Te BION: 







LA 

















Tue uniformity of his color is one characteristic which distinguishes tne 
-1on from his congeners of the feline race. Except in his young state, when 
there is an appearance of stripes, he is of a pale tawny above, which be- 
comes somewhat lighter beneath. A second mark is, the long and flowing 
mane of the full grown male, which, commencing nearly at the root of his 
nose, extends backwards over his shoulders, and gracefully undulates on 
each side of his face and neck. A third is, a long and blackish tuft of hairs 
which terminates his tail. In size, the Asiatic lion rarely equals the south- 
ern African. He is of a more uniform and pale yellow, and has a peculiar 
appendage in the long hairs which begin beneath the neck, and occupy the 
whole of the middle line of the body below. 
The lioness has no mane, is of smaller size than the lion, more slenderly 
and delicately made, and more graceful and agile in her movements. The 
head of the lion is almost uniformly elevated; that of the lioness is almost 
uniformly carried on a level with the line of her back, which gives her a 
sullen and downcast look. The period of gestation is a hundred and eight 
days. ‘Th2 young are born with the eyes open; but the ear does not be- 
come co'apletely erect for two months. The lion arrives at mawrity m 
five years, and is then nearly eight feet long. 
