THE LION 



jaguars, and thereby resemble those of tigers, is the presence of a white spot near 

 the summit of the back of each ear. From these facts it has been inferred, in the 

 first place, that the lion is most nearly related to the tiger, and, in the second place, 

 that lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars are all members of a single group. As 

 regards the mutual relationships of these species, it is generally believed that spots 

 represent an earlier and more primitive type of colouring than transverse stripes, 

 and it is therefore inferred that the stripes of the tiger, which are very frequently 

 partially split or double, have been derived from the fusion of leopard-like rosettes 

 into transverse chains. As the self-coloured coat of the adult lion is evidently a 

 modern feature, it seems clear that tigers and lions are to be regarded as the most 

 specialised members of the whole group. 



Before the investigations which led up to these modern advanced views had 

 been undertaken, it was very generally believed, on account of its self-coloured 

 tawny coat, that the American puma — locally known as the American lion — was 

 one of the nearest relatives of Felts leo. If, however, beauty be but skin deep, 

 colour is an even less deeply seated feature among animals ; and, as the result of 

 the study of the markings of young cubs of the puma, it seems certain that this 

 species has acquired its uniform tawny livery quite independently of the lion. 

 For newly born puma cubs exhibit a pattern of quadrangular blackish markings 

 totally different in form and arrangement from those of young lions, tigers, leopards, 

 or jaguars, and approximating in some degree to those of the smaller cats. Accord- 

 ingly, in the opinion of the investigator to whom we are indebted for these very 

 interesting views with regard to the inter-relationships of the various members of 

 the feline tribe, it seems highly probable that the puma may be an overgrown self- 

 coloured representative of the group of smaller cats typified by the ordinary 

 domesticated species and its wild relatives. 



A remarkable feature connected with the tuft at the tip of the tail of the 

 lion is the frequent presence of a horny spur or claw, the function of which is still 

 unknown, although it is certain that it is not employed, as was once thought to be 

 the case, to goad the animal into fury when the tail is lashed against the flanks. 

 It has been asserted that this spur is found only in the Indian lion ; but this is as 

 erroneous as the statement made by the same writer that it represents the last joint 

 of the vertebrae of the tail to which the blood is unable to obtain access. A very 

 similar structure exists in one member of the kangaroo tribe, known as the spur- 

 tailed wallaby, in which, however, the spur is common to both sexes and quite 

 constant in its development. 



Menagerie lions, it may be mentioned, generally display a greater luxuriance 

 and profusion of mane than their wild relatives ; while it is in the former alone 

 that any marked development of long hair on the under surface of the body is 

 noticeable. The reason for this is, of course, too obvious to require explanation, 

 more especially when it is borne in mind that lions inhabiting open plains with 

 grass-jungle have larger manes than those which have to get their living in a 

 country overgrown with thorn-bushes. 



