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1 
GUIDE TO THE 
The Burdwan House. 
This handsome edifice is semi-circular and 250 feet 
in length. It has a broad verandah running along its 
southern front, and is divided into eleven large dens, in 
double series, one in front and one behind. It was erected 
by H. H. the Maharajah of Burdwan, who was the first 
and most munificent contributor to the Gardens. 
The series of the large beasts of prey begins at 
the eastern end with the Lion which is generally regarded 
as the most noble of these animals. 
Only one species of Lion is known, viz., Felis leo , and it 
is distributed throughout Africa, and extends into Arabia, 
and Persia, eastwards to India. The Emperor Babar 
records the occurrence of the lion in his day, in the 
Benares District, associated with the wild elephant, 
rhinoceros, and wild buffalo. But even within the pre¬ 
sent century the lion is known to have ranged from 
Palamow in Bengal, westwards to the banks of the Indus, 
and from Poonah to the banks of the Sutlej and to 
Sindh. At present, however, it is almost exclusively 
confined to Kachh and Guzerat, but, within the last few 
years, lions have been killed near Mount Abu, at Saugor, in 
the Rewah District, and 25 miles west of Allahabad. As 
the lion is the cognizance of the famous goddess Durga 
whose worship is so popular in Bengal, it is probable that 
the animal was even more widely spread in India in early 
times. An impression formerly existed that the Indian 
lion was maneless, but this doubtless arose from immature 
specimens of the male having been observed, for the adult 
is provided with a mane as in the lions of Africa and 
Persia, although it may occasionally be not so well deve¬ 
loped. It is also said that its physiognomy differs from that 
