MAMMALIA— COUGAR. 177 



destroy the whole, merely that he may enjoy the luxury o. sucking their 

 blood. As he possesses much timidity and little swiftness, and in South 

 America frequents the open plains, he generally falls a victim when the 

 hunter pursues him with the unerring lasso. 



In seizing its prey, the puma crawls softly on his belly through the shrubs 

 and bushes, conceals itself in ditches, or assumes a fawning appearance. 

 As soon, however, as it can" reach its victim, it leaps on its back by one 

 bound, and soon rends it to pieces. Molina tells us, that, in Chili, where 

 the husbandmen tether their horses in the fields by pairs, the puma kills 

 and drags one away, and compels the other to follow by occasionally strik- 

 ing it with his paw. All animals are not thus easily vanquished. Asses 

 defend themselves with their heels, and are often victorious ; and cows form 

 themselves into a circle round their calves, turn their horns towards the 

 assailant, and not unfrequently destroy him. Even a woman or a child can 

 put him to flight. When hunted with dogs, however, and cut off from his 

 retreat to a rock or a tree, he places himself under the trunk of a large tree, 

 and fights furiously. 



The puma is easily tamed, and in captivity becomes tractable, and even 

 attached. It loves to be noticed and caressed, expresses its pleasure by 

 purring, will follow its owner about like a dog, and has been known to suffer 

 children to ride upon its back. 



The following anecdotes are from Godman : — 



" Two hunters, accompanied by two dogs, went out in quest of game 

 near the Catskiil mountains. At the foot of a large hill, they agreed to go 

 round it in opposite directions, and when either discharged his rifle, the 

 other was to hasten towards him to aid in securing the game. Soon after 

 parting, the report of a rifle was heard by one of them, who, hastening 

 towards the spot, after some search, found nothing but the dog, dreadfully 

 lacerated and dead. He now became much alarmed for the fate of his 

 companion, and while anxiously looking around, was horror-struck by the 

 harsh growl of a cougar, which he perceived on a large limb of a tree, 

 crouching upon the body of his friend, and apparently meditating an attack 

 on himself. Instantly he levelled his rifle at the beast, and was so fortu- 

 nate as to wound it mortally, when it fell to the ground along with the 

 body of his slaughtered companion. His dog then rushed upon the wounded 

 cougar, which with one blow of its paw laid the poor animal dead by its 

 side. The surviving hunter now left the spot, and quickly returned with 

 several other persons, when they found the lifeless cougar extended near 

 the dead bodies of the hunter and the faithful dogs." 



" About the close of the late war, a merchant of Piqua, named Herse, 

 received a considerable sum of money in small bills, which made it appear 

 of still greater magnitude to several suspicious looking persons who were 

 present when it was received. Mr Herse being unarmed, was apprehen- 

 sive that an attempt would be made to rob him at the camping ground, and 

 23 





