264 CAPT. K. CRAWSHAY ON THE [Nov. 29, 



Jimmie showed ridges as follows : — 



/'Ist digit none. 

 I 2nd ., obliqne. 

 Right hand <; ord ,. tvansvevse at base of digit. 



•itli :, „ „ „ 



5th „ nearly longitudinal. 



y' 1st digit none. 

 I 2nd ,, obliqne. 

 Left hand s 3rd „ „ 



Uth „ 



^5th ,, none. 



In these three specimens ridges were absent from the corre- 

 sponding surfaces on the feet. 



The well-defined longitudinal direction of the ridges in Mickie 

 is worth notice. It must be remembered in this connection that 

 a Chimpanzee walks with the extensor surfaces of the phalanges 

 touching the ground and the digits turned inAvards, so that their 

 long axes are at right angles to the line of progression of the 

 animal, and accordingly the ridges of this part also occupy the 

 same relative position. There is no correlation in this instance 

 between the act of prehension and the dii-ection of the ridges, 

 though it agrees closely with the general rule which obtains in so 

 many regions, that the ridges lie at right angles to the line of 

 inci(lence of the predominating pressure on the part. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Some Observations on the Field Natural History of 

 the Lion. By Capt. Richard Crawshay, F.Z.S. 



[Received June 10, 1904.] 



In oifering these observations I wish it understood at the 

 outset that I do not pose as a great lion-huntei', nor as having 

 made lion-hunting a special pursuit, but speak merely as one who, 

 during a period covering at intervals some seventeen years of 

 travel and residence in Central Africa, has had many experiences 

 ■with Lions. 



From what I have read, and still more from the opinions I hear 

 •expressed from time to time, prevaOing impressions seem so often 

 at variance with my own observations that I have thought it 

 worth while to record these latter. 



It has always seemed to me that, though much has been A\i-itten 

 respecting the habits of the Lion in his natural state, a great portion 

 of it is more fiction than fact : this, at least, is my experience. 

 For one thing, the common opinion of the Lion being an animal of 

 almost exclusively nocturnal habit — rarely or never seen in the 



