46 VERTEBRATES. 



it in othera, serves a good deal to disguise this animal's real figure. 

 The breast appears very broad, but in reality is as narrow anA 

 contracted in proportion as that of the generality of dogs and 

 horses. For the same reason, the tail seems to be of an equal 

 thickness from one end to the other, on account of the inequality 

 of the hair with which it is encompassed ; it being shorter near 

 the insertion where the flesh and bones are large, and growing 

 -onger in proportion as its real thickness lessens towards the point, 

 where it ends in a tuft. The hair about the neck and the breast 

 is not different from that on the rest of the body, except in the 

 length of it ; nor is each hair pointed, as in most other animals, 

 but of an equal thickness from one end to the other. The neck 

 is very strong, but, though very short and muscular, it has as many 

 bones as the camel or the'horse. The tongue is rough, and beset 

 with prickles as hard as a cat's claws ; these have the grain turned 

 l)ackwards ; so that it is probable a lion, if it should attempt to 

 lick a man's hand, as we are told it sometimes does, would tear 

 off the skin. The eyes are always bright and fiery ; nor even in 

 death does this terrible look forsake them. In short, the structure 

 of the paws, teeth, eyes, and tongue, are the same as in a cat; and 

 also in the inward part these two animals so nearly resemble each 

 other, that the anatomist's chief distinction arises merely from 

 the size. 



In this animal, all the passions, even of the most gentle 

 kind, are in excess, bu ; particularly the attachment of the female 

 to her young. The lioness, though naturally less strong, less cou- 

 rageous, and less mischievous than the lion, becomes terrible when 

 she has got young ones to provide for. She then makes her in- 

 cursions with even more intrepidity than the lion himself; she 

 throws herself indiscriminately among men and other animals; 

 destroys without distinction ; loads herself with the spoil, and 

 brings it home reeking to her cubs, whom she accustoms betimes 

 to cruelty and slaughter. She usually brings forth from two to 

 four cubs at a time, in the most retired and inaccessible places ; and 

 when she fears to have her retreat discovered, often hides her tracks, 

 .by runnini^ back over her ground, or by brushing them out with 



