nniinalg leavè their lolly habitations, it is more for the reason that the snow interferes with their movements than on
account of the cold. According to the gentleman just named, this animal supports cold better than great heat.
The Lion even in its wild state, seems at times to. become, cowed by th e human eye; and Thompson relates, m
his I Adventures in South Africa,’ that a Boer of the Cradock district, when hunting with a neighbour, approached a
fountain surrounded, as is usual, by reeds, when suddenly a lion started up by his side and seized him by the left
aim The man stood perfectly still, aware that if he struggled he would be certain to suffer instant destruction.
The lion also remained motionless, holding the arm fast in his teeth but not biting it severely, and shutting his
eves as if he could not look upon the face of his victim. As they stood thus, the man’s presence of mmd did not
forsake him - and he beckoned to his companion to shoot the lion in the head, which could easily have been done.
But his comrade was a great coward, and, in place of helping his friend, he retreated to the top of a rock near by.
The Boer earnestly begged for assistance, the lion remaining perfectly quiet; and if the man had been patient a
Uttle longer, it is possible the animal would have left him. But, indignant at the cowardice o f his companion, he
drew his knife and, with all the force of his right arm, drove it into the animal's breast. The thrust was a deadly
one- hut the enraged beast, although held at arm’s length by the man in his desperate efforts to defend himself, so
lacerated his unfortunate victim's arms and breast with his claws, that the bones were laid bare, and at length both
fell from loss of blood. The cowardly neighbour, who had witnessed the fearful struggle without attempting a rescue,
at length mustered sufficient courage to go to his mangled friend and carry him to the nearest house, where every
assistance was rendered, hut in vain ; for the poor fellow expired on the third day from lockjaw, ■ ■ ■ ■
I'h av e mentioned that occasionally Lions become “ man-eaters,” as the term is. Of all creatures, unarmed man is
the most i n c a p a b l e of'successfid defence in a struggle with the inhabitants of the desert and the forest; and the.
wild beasts soon learn how easy.it is to make him their prey. When a Lion has become a confirmed “ man-eater”
he is extremely dangerous; for it is frequently his habit to lie in wait for days near a village, watching for an
opportunity to spring upon some unfortunate person who goes beyond the limits of the houses, and carry him off to
the jungle. Instances are known of a village being almost depopulated by one of these ferocious beasts, so many
human beings having been slain, and the survivors compelled to remove to another locality.
The Lion is now no longer found in Europe. I t is still met.with in various parts of India, according to Jerdon,
from Cutoh to Humana, in Gwalior and Saugor in the north-west, but only in Guzerat and Cutch is at all common.
The same author also states (hat quite recently the Lion has been killed as far eastward as the Allahabad and
Jnhbnlpore road In Guzerat the species is found along the banks of the Somhermuttee, near Ahmedabad. It
extends through a range of country, according to Captain Smee, of about forty miles length. I t is also found on
the Bhum n etr Bhumpor, and also near Puttem. North or east of . Bengal the Lion is not now met with. It is
not uncommon in Persia, nor in Asia Minor. In Africa it is still found in the Atlas range of mountains, but has
been nearly if not quite, extirpated from Egypt, and has also been driven into the interior from the Cape of Good
Hope In other parts of Africa, however, it is very common. At one time it probably ranged over the entire continent.
My Plate contains figures of aU the known varieties of the Lion, viz.'the Black- and Yellow-maned, the Babylonian
(with the mane covering the shoulders), and the maneless style. A Lioness is drinking in the foreground.
The skull of the Lion resembles that of the Tiger in many particulars; but the following characters will serve to
distinguish them. The nasal processes of the maxillaries are pointed and prolonged to the same line as is reached
by the fronto-nasal articulation. The nasal aperture is inclined towards a square shape. The frontal ends of the nasal
bones are flattened; and the interorbilal space is generally wider than is observed in the Tiger. The temporal length
of the frontals is short, which consequently brings forward the parietal suture, and places correspondingly backwards
the postorbital process, giving the skull, when viewed from above, the appearance of being “ short-waisted,” in
contradistinction to the “ long-waisted ” aspect of the Tiger’s skull. Mr. Boyd Dawkins gives a character to distinguish
the Lion from the Tiger, which he considers of specific value and consequently reliable. On the inferior border of the
mandibular ramus, immediately beneath the last molar, there is developed a Blight process, more or less pronounced in
different individuals, causing the under jaw in profile to have in some a rounded outline from symphysis to angle, while
in others it presents a doubly arched appearance. This process is not found on the same part of thè Tiger’s skull.