268 
PLIirr's IfATURAL HISTOEY. 
[Book VIII. 
are various opinions on this point, as to whether it is through 
some peculiar disposition of the animal, or merely by accident, 
that their fury is thus soothed by addressing them. As to 
what is alleged, too, about serpents, that they can be drawn 
from their holes by singing, and thus be made to yield them- 
selves up to death, the truth or falsity of it has not by any 
means been satisfactorily ascertained.'* 
The tail of the lion gives indication of the state of his feelings, 
just as the ears do in the horse ; for these are the distinguishing 
signs which I^ature has given to each of the most generous of 
animals. Hence it is that, when pleased, the tail is without 
motion, and the animal fawns upon those who caress him ; a 
thing, however, that very rarely happens, for his most fre- 
quent state is that of rage. He begins by beating the earth 
with his tail ; and as he becomes more furious, he lashes his 
sides, as if trying to excite himself. His greatest strength 
is situate in the breast. From every wound that he makes, 
whether it is with his claws or his teeth, a black blood issues.^ 
"When his hunger is satisfied, he becomes harmless. The ge- 
nerous disposition of the lion is more especially manifested in 
time of danger ; not only at the moment when, despising all 
weapons, he long defends himself solely by the terror which he 
inspires, and protests, as it were, that he is compelled thus to de- 
fend himself, but when he rises at last, not as though constrained 
by danger, but as if enraged by the mad folly of his adversaries. 
This, however, is a still more noble feature of his courage — 
however numerous the dogs and hunters may be that press 
upon him, as he makes his retreat he comes to a stand every now 
and then upon the level plain, while he is still in view, and 
scowls contemptuously upon them : but as soon as ever he has 
entered the thickets and dense forests, he scours away at the 
swiftest possible pace, as though aware that the place itself 
will shelter his shame. When in pursuit, the lion advances with 
a leap, but he does not do so when in flight. When wounded, 
he discovers, with wonderful sagacity, the person who struck the 
blow, and will find him out, however great may have been the 
* In various countries, and more especially in Egypt, the magicians pro- 
fess to charm serpents by incantations ; and it appears that they are able to 
acquire some power over them by imitating their natural cries. Cuvier 
informs us, that Geoffroi St. Hilaire had witnessed the fact, and was him- 
self able to produce the effect. — B. 
* Aristotle says, a matter of a yellow colour, Ix^psg wxpot. 
