40 THE LION. 
to the age of the animal, and possibly according to the locality which it 
inhabits. The Lioness possesses no mane, and even in the male Lion it is 
not properly developed until the animal has completed his third year. 
When fully grown, the male Lion measures some four feet in height at 
the shoulder, and about eleven feet in total length. 
The Lioness is a smaller animal than her mate, and the difference of size 
appears to be much greater than really is the case, because she is devoid of 
the thick mane which gives such grandeur and dignity to her spouse. 
In the attack of large animals, the Lion seldom attempts an unaided 
assault, but joins in the pursuit of several companions. Thus it is that the 
stately giraffe is slain by the Lion, five of which have been seen engaged in 
the chase of one giraffe, two actually pulling down their prey, while the other 
three were waiting close at hand. ‘he Lions were driven off, and the neck 
of the giraffe was found to be bitten through by the cruel teeth of the assailants. 
Owing to the uniform tawny colour of thé Lion’s coat, he is hardly distin- 
guishable from surrounding objects even in broad daylight, and by night 1 « 
= Se 
THE LION.—(Leo barbarus.) 
walks secure. Even the practised eyes of an accomplished hunter have been 
unable to detect the bodies of Lions which were lapping water at some 
twenty yards’ distance, betraying their vicinity by the sound, but so blended 
in form with the landscape, that they afforded no mark for the rifle even at 
that short distance. 
Upon the African continent the Lion reigns supreme, sole monarch over 
the feline race. But in Asia his claims to undivided royalty are disputed by 
the TIGER, an animal which equals the Lion in size, strength, and activity, 
and certainly excels him in the elegance of its form, the grace of its move- 
ments, and the beauty of its fur. The range of the Tiger is not so widely 
