28& 
tION, 
and shaggy pendent mane* his strength of limb* 
and formidable countenance* exhibit a picture 
of terrific grandeur* which no words can describe* 
His length is from six to eight feet ; and his 
tail* which is terminated by a tuft of blackish hair* 
is alone about four feet. The general colour is a 
pale tawny* inclining to white beneath. The claws 
are retractile ; not into sheaths* hut into the inter- 
vals between the toes* by means of a particular 
articulation of the last joint. The last bone but 
one* by bending itself outwards* gives place to 
the last* which is only articulated to it ; and to 
which the claw is fastened so as to bend itself 
upwards and sideways* more easily than down- 
wards. So that the bone which is at the end ot 
every toe* being almost continually bent upwards* 
the point which rests upon the ground is not the 
extremity of the toe* but the node of the articula- 
tion of the last two bones ; and thus in walking, 
the claws remain elevated and retracted between 
the toes ; those of the right paws towards the right* 
and those of the left towards the left side of the 
toes. This admirable structure is not found in the 
great-toe ; whose last joint bends only downwards* 
because this toe does not naturally rest upon the 
ground* being considerably shorter than the others* 
The lioness or female is smaller* and wants the 
mane 
The lion* produced under the burning sun of 
Africa, is* of all others* the most terrible* the 
most undaunted. The wolf or the dog* instead of 
attempting to rival him* scarce deserve to attend 
his motions* or become his providers.^ Such* 
however* of these animals* as are bred in a more 
temperate climate* or towards the tops of cold 
and lofty mountains* are far more gentle* or* to 
speak more properly* far less dangerous than those 
bred in the torrid valleys beneath . The lions ©f' 
