LION, Felis Leo, the largest and most majestic of the feIido3 and of carnivorous quad rupeds. It is, when mature, of a nearly uniform tawny or yellowish color, paler on the under-parts; the young alone exhibiting markings like those common in the felidm; the male has, usually, a great shaggy and flowing mane; and the tail, which is pretty long, terminates in a tuft of hair. The whole frame is extremely muscular, and the fore-parts, in particular, are remarkably powerful; giving, with the large head, bright-flashing eye, and copious mane, a noble appearance to the animal, which, with its strength, has led to its being called the " king of beasts," and to fancies of its noble and generous dis position, having no foundation in reality. A. lion of the largest size measures about 8 ft. from the nose to the tail, and the tail about 4 feet. The lioness is smaller, has no mane, and is of a lighter color on the under-parts. The strength of the lion is such that he can carry off a heifer as a cat carries a rat.
The lion is chiefly an inhabitant of Africa, although it is found also in some of the wilds of Asia, particularly in certain parts of Arabia, Persia, and India. It was anciently much more common in Asia, and was found in some parts of Europe, particularly in Macedonia and Thrace, according to Herodotns and other authors. It has disappeared also from Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, in which it was once common. The lion is not, in general, an inhabitant of deep forests, but rather of open plains, in which the shelter of occasional bushes or thickets may be found. The breeding-place is always in some much secluded retreat. in which the voung—two. three. or four in a litter—are watched over with great assiduity by both parents, and, if necessary, are defended With great courage—although, in other circumstances, the lion is more disposed to retire from man than to assail him or contend with him. When met in an open country, the lion retires at first slowly, a.s if ready for battle, but not desirous of it; then more swiftly; and finally by rapid bounds. If compelled to defend himself, the lion manifests great courage. The lion often springs upon his prey by a sudden bound, accompanied with a roar; and it is said that if he fails in seizing it, he does not usually pursue, but retires as if ashamed; it is certain, however, that the lion also often takes his prey by pursuing it, and with great perseverence. The animal singled out for pursuit, as a zebra, rnay be swifter of foot than the lion, but greater power of endurance enables him to make it his victim. Deer and antelopes are perhaps the most common food of lions. The lion, like the rest of the felidce, is pretty much a nocturnal animal; its eyes are adapted for the night or twilight rather than for the day. It lurks generally in its lair during the day,
and issues as night comes on, when its tremendous roar begins to be heard in the wil derness. It has a horror of fires and torch-lights; of which travelers in Africa avail themselves, when surrounded by prowling lions in the wilderness by night, and sleep in safety. Lion-hunting is, of course, attended with danger—a wounded and exasperated lion becoming a most formidable adversary—but besides the necessity of it to farmers in South Africa and other countries where lions abound, it has been found attractive to mere sportsmen from the excitement attending it. The rifle has proved too mighty for the lion wherever it has been employed against him, and lions rapidly disappear before the advance of civilization, In India, they are now confined to a few wild districts; and in South Africa, their nearest haunts are far from Cape Town and from all the long and fully settled regions.
The lion is easily tamed, at least when taken young; and when abundantly supplied with food is very docile, learning to perform feats which excite the admiration of the crowds that visit menageries. Exhibitions of this kind are not, however, unattended with danger, as too many instances have proved. Lions were made to contribute to the barbarous sports of the ancient Romans: a combat of lions was an attractive spectacle; and vast numbers were imported into Rome, chiefly from Africa, for the supply of the amphitheater. Pompey exhibited 600 at once.—Lions have not unfrequently bred in the menageries of Europe, and a hybrid between the lion and the tiger has occasionally been produced.
The mane of the lion, and the tuft at the end of the tail, are not fully developed till he is 6 or 7 years old. The tail terminates in a small prickle, the existence of which was known to the ancients, and which was supposed hy them to be a kind of goad to the aninial when lashing himself with his tail in rage. The prickle has no connection with the caudal vertebrm, but is merely a little nail or horny cone, about two lines in lengtn, adhering to the skin at the tip of the tail.
There are several varieties of the lion, slightly differing from each other in form and color, but particularly in the development of the mane. The largest lions in the s. of Africa are remarkable for the large size of the head and the great and black mane. The Persian and other Asiatic lions are generally of a lighter color and inferior in size, strength, and ferocity to the African lion. Guzerat and the s. of Persia produce a some what smaller variety, remarkable as being almost destitute of mane.