68 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
with long, fliaggy hair, like a mane. It has 
very ftrong limbs, and a long tail, with a 
tuft of hair at the end. The colour is taw- 
ny, except on the belly, where it inclines to 
white. The length of the largeft lion, from 
the nofe to the tail, is about eight feet. The 
lionefs is lefs, and has no mane. 
Climate little .nffedls this noble animal 
He fubfifts as well under the frigid pole, as 
beneath the torrid zone ; while moft other 
animals are adapted to live only in particular 
latitudes. 
The lion abounds chiefly in the torrid 
zone, where they are the largeft, and mok 
tremendous. The burning fun, and arid 
foil, feem to inflame their nature to the 
, greateft height of favage ferocity. In the 
colder regions, fuch as Mount Atlas, they 
are much inferior, both in fize, ftrength, 
and fpirit. The torrid zone, affording but 
few rivers or fountains, caufes him to live 
in a perpetual fever, which excites a fort of 
madnefs, fatal to every animal he meets. It 
is happy therefore, that this ferocious crea- 
ture, as travellers in general relate, are daily 
declining in number. But, perhaps, were 
they to be entirely extirpated, other animals, 
on which they prey, might grow too nume- 
rous for the fafety and welfare of the inhabi- 
tants of thofe dreadful countries. "W e had, 
therefore, better leave the proportioning the 
number of this animal to Him, who meafurcs 
all 
