Full text |
FELIS LEO.
cr, and, if not identical with the Lion of our time, was at Teast very intimately allied, differing chioly in its
although the remains of certain specimens indieate an animal somewhat smaller than some of the la
ms of the prevent day. Individuals undoubtedly varied in size, as do those of the existing species. All the n
FF. spelen have been found in the so-called bonecaves scattered throu
i the Pleistocene or later Pliocene. In England the Cave-Lion, as itis called
ut Western Europe, and all are regarded
w belonging to the same period,
has heen found in Yorkshire, where a few tooth were obtained in the cave of Kich le. This ie apparently i
tmost northern range in this direetion. In the easter counties it was very scare, though numer have: bee
situined from the riverdleposts of the Thames valley. ‘The greatest quantity of remains has been procured in the
Mendip Hills in Somerset; and in a place called Wookey-hole hyrenaden a number
wich would indicate that the animals had fallen a prey to the Hyzena of those times. On the continent the
Germany, Russa, aly, Greeve, and
of bones were found, all much
enavved
remnains of this great Cat have been met with in different parts of Belgium, Franc
Sicily. Tt does not appear to have inhabited Asia, but was replaced there by an exti
remains of which were d f the Sivalik Hills. Th
was the ox, reindeer, bison, &e. The Cave-Lion disappeared from Britain towards the
and is considered to have retreated gradually from Europe and become extinct between 340 1.0. a
his disappearance, according to Dayskins, was the warfare enried it by the people
as exhibited by the leonine remains found in the ancient dwellingplaces o lac men in Aurigone
Ta Madeleine. This is probably a correct supposition; for neither was the temperature unsuited for its cont
existence nor had the supply of food filed
Tistorie times. the Lion has been selected to symboliz
pon him the royal title of King of Beasts. This appellation vas given probablj
From the caries power and majesty; and neatly
writers have united in bestowing
nore on account of his appearance than from any especial nobility of character which he might possess; for inst
I by the Elephant and Rhinoceros, his fellow inmates of the forests and jungles, and equalled by the Tig
1 itl fi with is tly majestic
Tsponiton, like that of all Cats i erafty and treacherous, a
Among the earlier nations of the earth the Lion was reserved as royal game, and none but the sovereign could
sealptured slabs of Nineveh bear witness to this fict, and by their graphic pictures prove what
importance was attached to the pursuit of this animal; and these pictorial rep
Individual Lions are subject to much variation in the colour of their pelage ; and from this eause many have been
Aeseribed as distinct by successive writers; but I see no reason whatever for believing that there is more than one specie
As they vary in the hues of their bodies, so do they also in the colour and extent of their manes. But these are onl
individual peculiarities, the same as are observed in man and as full beards and no beards are to be met with daily, soit is
‘ommion to see Lions with enormous manes extending even behind the shoulders, others with this apy
‘moderate, and some with none at all, Also the manes are scen of a jot-black, tawny, or ye
irrespective of the locality ftom which their possesiors came. The Babylonian animal, as well as the blackman
fom Natal, present the grandest appearance, with the mane covering the entire neck and shoulders
math the body as well as upon the flanks. "The colour
ple tha, as stated by Scater, a rumour was once eurrent
the ody is ofall hues in different individual, ran
a deep reddish brown to a silvery grey, the latter
Cape of Good Hope that there existed inthe far interior a ruce of while Lions. The dark-coloured specimens are perhaps
The mane attains its greatest lusuriance when the physical powers have reccived their fullest
the rarest of all
after the animal has arrived at maturity
development instances doubtless it continues to increase
Major Smee a the Lion from Guzerat as a distinct spocies, on acc
mis from that locality were mancless. But this has
having very Tittle which led him to suppose that all
not ouly have individuals heen reocived direct from the
obtained in Aion for
z manes as any of their Afiean brethren, but mancless Lions have al
‘Oswell and Wikon, in their book on Lake Ngami, two specimens were killed by them at the lake
his ommament. Tt may be, as suggested y Blyth, that the absence of mane observed in
Jog torn off inthe prickly jungles through which the animal forees its way
FELIS LEO.
‘The appearance of the king of Beasts in his native wilds, according to Livingstone, is not very imposing, only
‘reataro Laeger then tho Liggtst dog ever seen, and) with/a vaago partaking strongly of the canine features. When
encountered by day, the Lion stands for a moment gazing, then turns and walks slowly avsay, looking over his sh
then commences to trot, and when he thinks himself out of sight, hounds off at « gallop. In regard to its
Character, Livingstone states that nothing he ever lenred in re e Lion gave him reason to believe thy
feemed to be inferior in power tothe Tiger.
pon tone of an land thse effets being dete. to tering dwn the latter animal with thet claws. Mess
Occasionally they will spring onto the hindquarters of a horse, but cannot
Onell and Vardon once saw three Tions endeavour to dr
time before they suecede ually selected hy the Lion when
down a. bulfilo; an the was mortally wounded by
a twoounce ball, i was a considera
rching his prey; and with these he commences his feat, although he is also very fond of the entmils and fatty
tons, thse parts in an clad being a fll meal for the largest Hon. In India its prey is chiely bullocks and
donkeys; and its fat is hi
stacked will endeavour to make his escape, either by fi 0 his heels and trying to outstrip his pursuers, or
in the thickest depths of the jungle. But if wounded or surrounded so as to make escape impossible
+ prized by the natives as a eure for theumatism. As a general rule, the Lion when
else by hiding
Tie will fight to the last, and, rari
ady hand and eye are needed, and woe to the Tuckless hunter whose gun misses
fearflly, wll with great bounds endeavour close quarters with his
assailants, At such times a
ia nerves ful him at the trying moment; fora hand-to-hand conflict is a very unequal one between man and this
at Cat, the former rarely ex
season this species is very fearless and ready to brave any danger; and if a man happens eve
his if
Daring the breedin
foe vindword of « Kon and Hones, they wil rush at him, says Livingstone, inthe manner of a bitch with whe
When ld, Frequently become mangy and lean and, by reason of their teeth decaying, perish miserably, and if
aannscnce a distance from villages will catch mice and such small rodents, or if near huts will seize goats, or a wo
set AM if one happens to go out at night. Finding that thse last are especialy easy to master, they continue to prey
hon human beings and soon Become confimed “maneater” Many are the tales tht have een tld by easels
i aamnat have become addicted to this horrible practice, and of their boldness in sprin 0 the eamp at ni
Acising some uafortuate person siting perhaps around the fre in the midst of his companions, and rush
ae src darkness with their prey. These are not always aged animals; for some have been killed that were in the
ia Hy nd probly vere ths sully od from ther fondo or human es Rarely hs a person
Pr ee en thus scized By « Lion, « bite fom the fafa jaws of the beast being sulicient to crush at once th
sion tn a man, The Lion is generally found alone or else only accompanied by his family, the difculty of
ri in auficient quantity for the subsistence of such large creatures being probably the chief cause why
in troops, Sometimes, howerer, several are met with together; and many a traveller's camp bna
they don
alert all night by the roaring of the hungry ereatures, secking some available opening ie
ben kept on the
aoe eric spring pon and escape with ther booty. Major Stee killed no les than eleven Lions in Guzerat in
Hoang are ealled by the natives “ Outiah Bang,” or Camel Tiger, from w fincied resemblance of the
aaa me acky They were very destructive to domestic cattle and donkeys; but he did not learn hi
ever attacked men.
Tee the Lion varcs fom ton to eleven fect in extreme length. Formerly those from Affea were deemed distinct
fiom the Asiatic ones
and the size
Tut this belief is now generally abandoned, as differently coloured individuals are found in
aud colour of the mane has no specie value. The Dutch colonists of South Aftien desiguate
pie anes as the “ Zovaart,” and those with yellow as the “ Vaal," and contend that one is less ferocious
an ther, ‘The Lion is capable of enduring extreme cold as well as heat; and M. Tehibatchel? mentions that
an ne ae animals were seen in the regions of eternal snow at Mount Zerdakon, in Persia, by M. Amlin Eloy
cee aides, who were let below at « height of about 1740 mittres, were frightened by the appearance of several
ao nice nine, -M. Gérard states that Lions inhabit the most elevated mountains in Algeria, and alt
sey aie in winter, yet fil thir babtat ix covered with snow for several months at a time; and when the |