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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
Tlie western, central, and eastern portions of Africa liave each 
a variety of lion. The first, which is found between the borders 
of the Great Desert as its northern limit, and down to the lower 
basin of the Niger in the south, is a maneless creature, of an 
elongated form, and whose height is about that of the tiger, 
with which animal, moreover, it has many points of resem- 
blance. 
This variety is a hunter ; that is to say, it procures its 
nourishment by chasing game. For this purpose its instinct 
teaches it to combine with its congeners in the pursuit of its 
prey, which is effected under the direction of a veteran leader, 
who allots to all their proper posts and duties : to the most 
active and best armed the places of danger, whilst the lionesses 
and young ones are detached for the purpose of beating the 
game. By combined action, — nay, it might almost be said by 
a strategic movement, — the lionesses and them young press 
forward in an unbroken rank ; and, just as in a battue, they 
drive before them all the animals within their circuit in the 
direction of the hunting party, their movements being accom- 
panied with a loud clamour. When the prey arrives at the 
passages guarded by the elders, these spring upon and 
slaughter it with great rapidity, and probably with little 
suffering to the victims. Should, however, a rhinoceros or an 
adult elephant form a portion of the quarry, it is either allowed 
to pass unmolested, or is brought to the ground by the united 
attack of several lions. The battue ended, each hunter takes 
his share of the booty ; not, however, without some slight 
privileges in favour of superior might, which in the lion-world 
also (in this instance, at least,) constitutes right. 
When, for example, the chase has been successful, and a 
great number of animals are slain, no disputes arise concerning 
the division of prey; but should it happen that there is not 
sufficient to satisfy the appetites of all, the arrival of the lion- 
esses is awaited, and these are first served : then comes the 
turn of the males ; and lastly, upon the remnants— should there 
be any — the young people are permitted to regale themselves. 
Sometimes, when he grows old, the lion of this district turns 
misanthrope, and flees from the company of his congeners. In 
such cases, not being able to take a part in the battues of the 
community, nor to provide himself with sufficient nourishment 
by hunting the animals of the forest alone, he becomes a man- 
eater. Taking up his quarters in the thick brushwood border- 
ing on some village, he seizes the natives in their passage to 
the fields ; and it is not at all uncommon for the traveller to 
find villages in the basin of the Gambia and Niger abandoned 
by their inhabitants from this cause. 
In these habits, then, and in its elongated shape, the mane- 
