THE LION. 
7 
It is a singular circumstance in the history of this wonderful [ 
j animal, that in a state of subjection, it is unalterably barren ; j 
j and, though it has been reduced under the dominion of man for ( 
] ages, it has never been known to breed, as if it had a proper ( 
j sense of its degraded condition, and obstinately refused to in- [ 
| crease the pride and power of its conquerors by propagating a | 
) race of slaves. j 
... 
THE LION. 
/^Khis is the largest, most formidable and noble of the carnivo- 
. rous animals, though not the most typical of the genus at 
which it stands at the head. It is chiefly distinguished by 
the presence of a full, flowing mane in the male, by a tufted tail 
and a disappearance of the feline markings, in both sexes, before 
reaching maturity ; the color then being a nearly uniform light 
fulvous brown, with mane inclining to black, especially in the 
Central and South African races. The mane is scantier and 
lighter colored in the Asiatic than in the African lions. Com- 
pared with other animals of his species, the lion combines more 
robustness with the feline attributes ; and his pre-eminent sta- 
ture receives an air of nobility from the mane that decorates his 
head and neck. He has a credit, too, of having a greater share 
of boldness and generosity than the other cats. His vocal organs 
