L 262 ] 



THE LION *. 



The Lion is chiefly found in the interior of 

 Africa, and in the hotter parts of Asia. His form is 

 strikingly bold and majestic. His large head and 

 shaggy pendent mane, his strength of limb, and 

 formidable countenance, exhibit a picture of ter- 

 rific grandeur which no words can describe. 



His length is from six to eight feet ; and his tail, 

 which is terminated by a tuft of blackish hair, is alone 

 about four feet. The general colour is a pale tawny, 

 inclining to white beneath. The claws are retrac- 

 tile ; not into sheaths, but into the intervals be- 

 tween the toes by means of a particular articulation 

 of the last joint. The last bone but one, by bend- 

 ing itself outwards, gives place to the last, which is 

 only articulated to it ; and to which the claw is 

 fastened so as to bend itself upw^ards and sideways, 

 more easily than downwards. So that the bone 

 which is at the end of every toe being almost con^ 

 tinually bent upwards, the point which rests upon 

 the ground is not the extremity of the toe but the 

 node of the articulation of the last two bones ; and 

 thus in walking, the claws remain elevated and retract- 

 ed between the toes, those of the right paws towards 

 the right and those of the left towards the left side 

 of the toes. This admirable structure is not found 

 in the great-toe ; whose last joint bepds only down- 

 wards, because this toe does not naturally rest upon 



Synonyms. — Canis Leo. Lhut. — Lion. Bufjl'n.—~-Shaii's G'cw^ 

 .;>/. 81, S2.—Bav. 2uad. l6y. 



