THE LION. 



Synonims. 



Xeo, Plin. Hift. Nat. lib. viii. c. lO. Gefner Quad. 572. 



Rait Syn. Quad. 162. 

 Felis Leo, Linn, Syjl. 60. 

 Lowe, Klein Quad. 81. 

 Lion, Pennant Syn. Quad. 146. 

 Le Lion, de Biiffbn, ix. i. tab. i. ii. 



THE majeftic deportment of the Lion, united with his decided fuperiority 

 over, moll other animals, has, as it were, by common confent, obtained for 

 him the title of the king of beails. Bold and confident in his look, and 

 proud in his gait and demeanour, he commands refpecl at firll light. His figure 

 is ltriking and his voice terrible. His length is fometimes between eight and 

 nine feet, and his height four feet and a half ; notwithfianding which, he is fo 

 far from appearing clumfy or unwieldy, that he may jufily be confidered as a 

 perfect model of firength and activity. His head is large and mufcular, and his 

 face broad, furrounded with a long lhaggy mane, which covers the top of his 

 head, and extends along his neck, breaft, and Ihoulders. This he can erect upon 

 the lealt irritation, when his eye-balls inftantly flalh fire, the mufcles of his face 

 become convulfed, and form frightful wrinkles on his forehead and cheeks ; 

 he Ihews his tremendous teeth, and exhibits a fpectacle of horrid grandeur, 

 which beggars defcription. The eyes of the Lion are lively and piercing, 

 they are furnilhed with a membrane (a), which he can extend over them at 

 pleafure, like Owls, and moll animals which hunt their prey in the dark ; it 



the two laft bones ; and thus, in walking, the claws remain elevated and retracted between the toes j to wit, 

 all thofe of the right paws, towards the right fide of every toe ; and all thofe of the left paws, towards the 

 left fide 5 the bending of the toes to walk being caufed only by the tendons of the higher mufcles, and thofe 

 of the lower mufcle never moving, but when it is neceflary to extend the claws, which proceed out of the 

 toes when the laft joint is bent downwards. This admirable ftru&ure is not found in the great toe, whofe laft 

 joint bends only downwards, becaufe that this toe refts not on the ground, being fhorter than the reft, and 

 having but two bones as is ufual." — Ibid. p. 3. 



(a) Ibid. p. 4. 



