THE LION. 17 



well informed upon the subject do not share this belief, although 

 they may admit there is considerable difference in size, and 

 apparently in habits, between the Asiatic and African lions, for 

 the latter have generally a more powerful form, and are of a 

 darker shade in colour than the former. It seems also to be their 

 opinion that the " maneless lion of Guzerat," once thought to be 

 an unmistakably distinct species, is nothing more than a young 

 animal whose mane has not shot forth, or a lion exhibiting an 

 individual peculiarity. 



Unlike the larger majority of the other varieties of the cats, the 

 lion's eye has a pupil that does not contract into a vertical slit, 

 but is round and full. It is no doubt the want of this power of 

 contraction that makes him uncomfortable and uncertain in his 

 movements during the broad glare of sunlight in the daytime, 

 and has been to some extent the cause of his having fallen in 

 people's estimation from his former high and regal position in the 

 animal world. Mr. Frederick Courteney Selous, who is from his 

 experience most certainly an authority on the subject, writes : " It 

 has always appeared to me that the word majestic is singularly 

 inapplicable to the lion in his wild state, as, when seen by day- 

 light, he always has a stealthy, furtive look that entirely does away 

 with the idea of majesty. To look majestic, a lion should hold 

 his head high. This he seldom does. When walking he holds it 

 low, lower than the line of his back, and it is only when he first 

 becomes aware of the presence of man that he sometimes raises 

 his head and takes a look at the intruder, usually lowering it 

 immediately and trotting away with a growl. When at bay, 

 standing with open mouth and glaring eyes, holding his head low 

 between his shoulders and keeping up a continuous low growling, 

 twitching his tail the while from side to side, no animal can look 

 more unpleasant than a lion, but there is even then nothing 

 majestic or noble in his appearance." 



Writers even in works of modern date destroy the value of 

 their labours by giving very exaggerated descriptions of this 

 so-called " King of Beasts," portraying him in such a manner 

 that travellers who come across him in his wild state, and find 

 his habits and character do not agree with those accounts, go to 



