lion, leon

[O. Fr. leon, from Lat. leonem, acc us, of leo a lion, from Gr. leon; Fr. lion; Sp. leon; Ital. leone; Ger. löwe; O. H. Ger. leo, lewo; Ru . lev; Lith. lev as, lavas; Dut. leeuw.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. Lit .: In the same sense as II. 3. 2. Fig .: An object of interest and curiosity; one who or that which excites curiosity. "He had suddenly risen to literary fame, and become one of the lions of the day." -Irving: Goldsmith, ch. xviii II. Technically : 1. Astron.: The constellation Leo (q. v.). 2. Her .: A frequent change in coat-armor in various attitudes, as pa ant , gardant , rampant , salient , couchant, . 3. Zool.: Felis leo (formerly elevated into a distinct genus with a single species, Leo nobilis ), one of the largest and the most important of the living carnivora. Its range in historical time is very wide. The Hebrew Scriptures abound with reference to it, and in the time of Darius, lions were employed to execute judicial sentences (Dan. vi. 16-24). It is mentioned by Homer ( Il . xviii. 161); Hero dot us mentions lions as found in Africa (iv. 191), and in Europe (vii. 126), and Theocritus ( Id . x. 30); by Virgil ( Ecl . ii. 65), by Ovid ( Her . x. 85), by Martial in almost every book, and by Catullus in not the least dainty of his songs ( Carm . lxiii.). It played an important part in the sanguinary games of the Roman amphitheater, and the cry "Christ i a nos ad leones" had a terrible import for the early church. Its geographical range is now confined to Africa and the southwest of Asia, extending eastward as far as Gujerat. It existed in Europe down to historic times, and formerly ranged over Asia as far as the plains of Upper India. Though now driven from the Cape, the shores of the Mediterranean, and the populous parts of Egypt, it must have been at no distant date common all over Africa, for Murray says, "I am informed by Dr. Kirk that there is no nation or tribe which has not a name for the lion." It varies somewhat in size; but for an adult African male, from snout to tip of tail, ten feet, tail three feet, height at shoulder, three feet six inches, are average measurements. The Gujerat variety is somewhat smaller. It is usually known as the 2537 "manele " lion, but a specimen in the London Zoological Gardens, "was as thoroughly maned as any African individual. In color lions vary from a deep chestnut-brown to gray, so silvery as to have given rise to the belief that a race of white lions exists in South Africa. The color of the mane varies equally. In the Nubian lion it is generally pale fulvous, and in Cape lions black, but all intermediate shades are found both in Nubia and the Cape country." ( Sclater .) 4. Palæont.: Prof. Dawkins enumerated among the Mid Pleistocene, and again among Late Pleistocene Mammal i a of Great Britain Felis leo . A Felis spelœa was once recognized; it is now deemed not specifically distinct from the common lion. In the Early Pleistocene, Prof. Dawkins has the Saber toothed Lion, sometimes called the Saber toothed Tiger. [MACH A I ROD US.] The Le er Lion : Astron.: The constellation Leo minor (q. v.). lion-ant, s. Entom.: The same as ANT-LION. [MYRMELEON.] lion-dog, s. Zool .: According to Vero Shaw ( Book of the Dog, p. 191) Canis leon in us , "a degenerate scion of which exists in Malta." Youatt (p. 50) thinks it may be a cro between the Maltese and the hairle Turkish dog. Its hair on the head, neck, and forelegs is very long. †lion-heart, s. One who is lion-hearted. lion-hearted, a. Having great courage. "Arabian mothers long awed their infants to silence with the name of the lion -hearted Plantage net."-Mac aulay: Hist. Eng., ch. i. lion-like, a. Strong and brave as a lion. "He slew two lion - like men of Moab."-1 Chron. xi. 22. lion-lizard, s. Zool.: A common name for Basilic us american us or mitratus . [BASILISCUS.] *lion-mettled, a. Having the disposition of a Sick of a proud heart. lion.