the Tiger, and, if not identical with the Lion of our time, was at least very intimately allied, differing chiefly in its
larger size, although the remains of certain specimens indicate an animal somewhat smaller than some of the large
Lions of the present day. Individuals undoubtedly varied in size, as do those of the existing species. All the remains
of F. speleea have been found in the so-called bone-caves scattered throughout Western Europe, and all are regarded
as belonging to the same period, viz. the Pleistocene or later Pliocene. In England the Cave-Lion, as it is called,
has been found in Yorkshire, where a few teeth were obtained in the cave of Kirby Moorside. This is apparently its
most northern range in this direction. In the eastern counties it was very scarce, though numerous bones have been
obtained from the river-deposits 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 hyasna-den a number of bones were found, all much
gnawed, which would indicate that the animals had fallen a prey to the Hyasna of those times. On the continent the
remains of this great Cat have been met with in different parts of Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Greece, and
Sicily. I t does not appear to have inhabited Asia, but was replaced there by an extinct species of Tiger (F. cristata),
remains of wbich were discovered in the Miocene formation of the Sivalik Hills. The food of this powerful creature
was the ox, reindeer, bison, &c. The Cave-Lion disappeared from Britain towards the close of the Postglacial period,
and is considered to have retreated gradually from Europe and become extinct between 340 B .C . and a . d . 100. The
cause of this disappearance, according to Dawkins, was the warfare carried on against it by the people of those periods,
as exhibited by the leonine remains found in the ancient dwelling-places of the Postglacial men in Aurignac and
La Madeleine. This is probably a correct supposition; for neither was the temperature unsuited for its Continued
existence nor had the supply of food failed.
From the earliest historic times the Lion has been selected to symbolize power and majesty; and nearly all
writers have united in bestowing upon him the royal title of King of Beasts. This appellation was given probably
more on account of his appearance than from any especial nobility of character which he might possess; for in strength
he is surpassed by the Elephant and Rhinoceros, his fellow inmates of the forests and jungles, and equalled by the Tiger;
while his disposition, like that of all Cats, is crafty and treacherous, and little in keeping with his frequently majestic
aspect. Among the earlier nations of the earth the Lion was reserved as royal game, and none but the sovereign could
hunt him. The sculptured slabs of Nineveh bear witness to this fact, and by their graphic pictures prove what
importance was attached to the pursuit of this animal; and these pictorial representations are probably the earliest extant
of this fine beast.
Individual Lions are subject to much variation in the colour of their pelage; and from this cause many have been
described as distinct by successive writers; but I see no reason whatever for believing that there is more than one species.
As they vary in the hues of their bodies, so do they also in the colour and extent of their manes. But these are only
individual peculiarities, the same as are observed in man; and as full beards and no beards are to be met with daily, so it is
equally common to see Lions with enormous manes extending even behind the shoulders, others with this appendage
much more moderate-, and some with none at all. Also the manes are seen of a jet-black, tawny, or yellow colour,
irrespective of the locality from which their possessors came. The Babylonian animal, as well as the black-maned one
from Natal, present the grandest appearance, with the mane covering the entire neck and shoulders, and extending also
beneath the body as well as upon the flanks. The colour of the body is of all hues in different individuals, ranging from
a deep reddish brown to a silvery grey, the latter so pale that, as stated by Sclater, a rumour was once current at the
Cape of Good Hope that there existed in the far interior a race of white Lions. The dark-coloured specimens are perhaps
the rarest of all. The mane attains its greatest luxuriance when the physical powers have received their fullest
development, though in some instances doubtless it continues to increase after the animal has arrived at maturity.
Major Smee described (I. c.) the Lion from Guzerat as a distinct species, on account of a specimen he obtained there
having very little mane, which led him to suppose that all Lions from that locality were maneless. But this has
been ascertained to be incorrect; for not only have individuals been received direct from the Euphrates possessed of
as full flowing manes as any of their African brethren, but maneless Lions have also been obtained in Africa; for, as
stated by Messrs. Oswell and Wilson, in their book on Lake Ngami, two specimens were killed by them at the lake
which were quite destitute of this ornament. I t may be, as suggested by Blyth, that the absence of mane observed in
certain Lions is caused by its being torn off in the prickly jungles through which the animal forces its way.
The appearance of the king of beasts in his native wilds, according to Livingstone, is not very imposing, only a
creature larger than the biggest dog ever seen, and with a visage partaking strongly of the canine features. When
encountered by day, the Lion stands for a moment gazing, then turns and walks slowly away, looking over his shoulder,
then commences to trot, and when he thinks himself out of sight, bounds off at a gallop. In regard to its nobility of
character, Livingstone states that nothing he ever learned in regard to the Lion gave him reason to believe that in this
respect it was altogether worthy of its reputations but as to its great strength there could be no doubt, although it
seemed to be inferior in power to the Tiger. Occasionally they will spring onto the hindquarters of a horse, hut cannot
mount upon those of an eland, their efforts being directed to tearing down the latter animal with their claws. Messrs.
Oswell and Vardon once saw three lions endeavour to drag down a buffalo ; and although he was mortally wounded by
a two-ounce ball, it was a considerable time before they succeeded. The flanks are usually selected by the Lion when
attacking his prey s and with these he commences his feast, although he is also veiy fond of the entrails and fatty
portions, these parts in an eland being a full meal &r the largest lion. In India its prey is chiefly bullocks and
donkeys- and its fat-is highly prized by the natives, as a cure for rheumatism. As a general rule, the Lion when
attacked will endeavour to make his escape, either by fairly taking to his heels and trying to outstrip his pursuers, or
else by hiding in the thickest depths of the jungle. But if wounded or surrounded so as to make escape impossible,
he will fight to the last, and, roaring fearfully, will with great bounds endeavour to come to close quarters with his
assailants At such times a steady hand and eye are needed, and woe to the luckless hunter whose gun misses fire or
whose nerves fail him at the trying moment ; for a hand-to-hand conflict is a very unequal one between man and this
great Gat, the former rarely escaping with his life.
During the breeding-season this species is very fearless and ready to brave any danger ; and if a man happens even
to cross to windward of a lion and lioness, they will rush at him, says Livingstone, in the manner of a bitch with whelps.
When old, Lions frequently become mangy and lean and, by reason of their teèth decaying, perish miserably, and if
they are at a distance from villages will catch mice and such small rodents, or if near huts will seize goats, or a woman
or child if one happens to go out at night. Finding that these last are especially easy to master, they contmue to prey
upon lmman beings, and soon become confirmed “ man-eatem.” Many are the tales that have been told by ti-aveUers
of Lions that have become addicted to this horrible practice, and of their boldness in springing into the camp at night
and — ; some unfortunate person sitting perhaps around the fire in the midst of his companions, and rushing away
into the darkness with their prey. These are not always aged animals; for some have been killed that were m the
prime of life, and probably were thus unusually bold from their fondness for human flesh. Barely has a person escaped
with life when thus seized by a Lion, a bite from the fearful jaws of the beast being sufficient to crush at once the
largest bone in a man. The Lion is generally found alone or else only accompanied by his family, the difficulty of
obtaining food in sufficient quantity for the subsistence of such large creatures being probably the chief cause why
they do not go in troops. Sometimes, however, several are met with together; and many a traveller's camp has
been kept on the alert all night by the roaring of the hungry creatures, seeking some available opening through which
they might spring upon and escape with their booty. Major Smee killed no less than eleven lio n s in Guzerat in about
a month. They were called by the natives I Outiah Bang,” or Camel Tiger, from a fancied resemblance of their colour
to that of a camel. They were very destructive to domestic cattle and donkeys ; but he did not learn that they had
ever attacked men. .
In size the Lion varies from ten to eleven feet in extreme length. Formerly those from Africa were deemed distinct
from the Asiatic ones; but this belief is now generally abandoned, as differently coloured individuals are found m
both places and the size and colour of the mane has no specific value. The Dutch colonists of South Africa designate
those with black manes as the- " Zwaart," and those with yellow as the “ Vaal,” and contend that one is less ferocious
than the other. The Lion is capable of enduring extreme cold as well as heat; and M. Tchihateheff mentions that
traces of these animals were seen in the regions of eternal snow at Mount Zerdakon, in Persia, by M. Amhn Hoy, and
that his guides who were left below at a height of about 1740 mhtres, were frightened by the appearance of several
of these mim-i. M. Gérard states that Lions inhabit the most elevated mountains in Algeria, and although they
descend a little in winter, yet still their habitat is covered with snow for several months at a time; and when the