CARNIVORA. 
expressed himself, flashed fire at him. In short, the 
lion laid himself down at the foot of the tree, and 
did not move from the place for twenty-four hours. 
At the end of this time, becoming parched with thirst, 
the beast went to a spring at some distance in order 
to drink. The Hottentot now, with trepidation, 
ventured to descend, and ran off to his home.’’ 
As human population increases, and particularly 
where the arts of civilization advance, as at the ex- 
tremity of southern Africa, the destructive races of 
animals proportionably disappear; and even from 
Lybia, as Dr. Shaw states, the Romans drew fifty 
times as many lions for their horrid amusement in 
the amphitheatres, as are now to be found in that 
country. They appear to have been formerly spread 
over the three ancient continents, as they are called, 
but are now confined to Africa, and some neigh- 
bouring parts of Asia. 
The vignette represents the African lion. This 
variety is found most plentiful in the northern parts 
of Africa ; but there seems every reason to conclude, 
that the same inhabits also the southern parts of that 
great continent, as well as Syria. 
