LION. 
205 
eyes, teeth, tongue, and paws, are so very similar to 
those of a cat, that the chief distinction of the anato- 
mist arises from the size. 
The length of the largest lion from the nose to 
the origin of the tail, according to Mr. Pennant, 
is above 6ight feet ; he allows four feet for the 
length of the tail, which is tufted with long black 
hairs. The lioness, or female, is less, and wants 
the mane. The eyes of the lion, like those of the 
cat, seem fitted for seeing best in the dark ; in- 
deed, it has been frequently observed by his keep- 
ers, that a strong light greatly incommodes him. 
It is for this reason he rarely appears till the even- 
ing closes in, when, like the rest of the feline race, 
he begins to seek for prey. For this purpose he 
crouches on his belly, in some thicket, or among 
the long grass, which is found in many parts of the 
forest ; in this retreat he continues, with patient 
expectation, until his prey comes within a proper 
distance ; when he is said sometimes to spring fifteen 
or twenty feet, and often seizes the unhappy object 
at the first bound. 
Although this is the general mode which the 
lion chooses, when in search of food, yet he will 
Occasionally deviate from his natural manner, and 
pursue his prey without waiting for the darkness 
of the night. We are informed by Mr. Barrow, 
that “ a Hottentot belonging to one of the farmers 
had endeavoured for some time, in vain, to drive 
his master’s cattle into a pool of water enclosed be- 
tween two ridges of rock ; when at length he espied 
