The Persian variety is rather smaller than the others; the Barbary is of darker brown and heavily maned; the lion of Senegal is of light shining yellow colour, and thinly maned; while the maneless lion, as its name imports, is without this appendage.

The existence of the last species is doubted by some naturalists.

It is said to be found in Syria.
The two Cape lions differ principally in the colour of the mane.

In the one it is black or dark brown--in the other of a tawny yellow, like the rest of the body.
Of all lions, those of South Africa are perhaps the largest, and the black variety the most fierce and dangerous.
Lions inhabit the whole continent of Africa, and the southern countries of Asia.

They were once common in parts of Europe, where they exist no longer.