The following terms are now in use to denote the various attitudes of the Lion in Heraldry:--
_Rampant_: erect, one hind paw on the ground, the other three paws elevated, the animal looking forward and having his tail elevated, No. 171. _Rampant Guardant_: as before, but looking out from the Shield, No. 172. _Rampant Reguardant_: as before, but looking backwards.
_Passant_: walking, three paws on the ground, the dexter fore-paw being elevated, looking forward, the tail displayed over the back, No. 173. _Passant Guardant_: as before, but looking out from the Shield, No. 174. _Passant Reguardant_: as before, but looking backwards.
[Illustration: No. 172.--Rampant Guardant.]
[Illustration: No. 174.--Passant Guardant.]
[Illustration: No. 176.--Statant Guardant.]
_Statant_: standing, his four paws on the ground, and looking before him, No. 175. _Statant Guardant_: as before, but looking out from the Shield, No. 176: in this example the Lion has his tail extended, but this would be specified in the blazon, as it is an unusual position. In like manner, if the tail of a Lion in any other attitude be extended, there must be a statement to that effect.
_Sejant_: sitting down with his head elevated, No. 178. If he looks out from the Shield, the word _Guardant_ is to be added. A Scottish Lion sejant usually has his fore paws raised in the air, and in English terms of blazon would be described as "_Sejant erect_" or "_Sejant rampant_."
_Couchant_: is at rest, the fore legs stretched on the ground, as No. 177.
_Dormant_: asleep, head resting on fore paws, No. 179.
_Salient_: in the act of springing, the hind paws on the ground, both the fore paws elevated, No. 180.
_Double-queued_: two tails, as No. 181, which is a _lion rampant double-queued_.
_Coward: passant reguardant_, his tail between his legs, No. 182.
Two Lions rampant, when face to face, are _Counter rampant_, or _Combatant_: when back to back, they are _Addorsed_: when passant or salient in contrary directions, they are _Counter passant_ or _Counter salient_.
Lions, whatever their tincture, except it be red, or they are charged on a field of that tincture, are _armed and langued gules_; but _azure_ in the case of either of these exceptions, unless the contrary be specified in the blazon. When several Lions appear in one composition, or when they are drawn to a comparatively very small scale, they are sometimes blazoned as "_Lioncels_." This term "_Lioncel_," it must be added, when used alone, denotes a _small Lion rampant_.