LION* 
296 
return to that which he had half devoured before 
However,, though he usually feeds upon fresh pro* 
vision, his breath is very offensive, and his urine 
insupportable. 
The roaring of the lion is so loud, that when 
it is heard in the night, and re-echoed by the 
mountains, it resembles distant thunder. This 
roar is his natural note ; for when enraged he 
has a different growl, which is short, broken, 
and reiterated. The roar is a deep hollow growl, 
which he sends forth five or six times a day, 
particularly before rains. The cry of anger is 
much louder and more formidable. This is always 
excited by opposition ; and upon these occasions, 
when the lion summons up all his terrors for 
the combat, nothing can be more terrible. He 
then lashes his sides with his long tail, which, 
alone is strong enough to lay a man level. He 
moves his mane in every direction ; it seems to 
rise and stand like bristles round his head ; the 
skin and muscles of his face are all in agitation ; 
his huge eye-brows half cover his glaring eye- 
balls : he discovers his teeth, which are formed 
rather for destruction than chewing his food ; he 
shows his tongue covered with points, and ex- 
tends his claws, which appear almost as long as 
a man’s fingers. Prepared in this manner for 
war, there are but few animals that will venture 
to engage him ; and even the boldest of the hu- 
man kind are daunted at his approach. The ele- 
phant, the rhinoceros, the tiger, and the hippopo- 
tamus, are the only animals that are not afraid 
singly to make opposition. 
Nevertheless, neither the leopard nor the wild 
boar, if provoked, will shun the combat ; they 
do not seek the lion to attack, but will not 
fly at his approach : they wait his onset, which 
he seldom makes, unless compelled, by hunger 
