300 Wild Beasts 



who hunt in famiHes, are pumas. Two persons occasion- 

 ally appear in authentic records as having been assaulted. 

 Mostly, however, the incidents of any serious adventure 

 of this kind are only known to a single individual, and 

 whether they are ever recounted depends almost entirely 

 upon the way in which the attack is made. A hunter 

 taken by surprise would generally lose his life. This ani- 

 mal is not difficult to kill, and the facility with which it 

 may be disposed of is another reason for disparaging its 

 prowess among the class who most commonly encounter it. 



A source of misunderstanding is also found in the special 

 habits of this animal. Those of the Felidce about which 

 some more or less vague information is most generally 

 diffused, do not climb. The puma is particularly given to 

 doing so wherever forest lands are found within the range 

 of its distribution. Quite as frequently as the Asiatic and 

 African leopard, and more commonly than a jaguar, this 

 beast resorts to trees when pursued. Its reasons for 

 doing so cannot be doubted : it feels at home among the 

 boughs ; observation has taught the animal that none of 

 those natural enemies it need avoid can follow. If dogs 

 are on ifes track, it is well aware that, owing to their supe- 

 rior speed, they are certain to come up with it, and that 

 in taking to the limbs above, its scent will be lost. For 

 this habit but one reason has been commonly assigned ; 

 namely, that the puma is a poltroon. 



In G. O. Shields' compilation of monographs upon "The 

 Large Game of North America," he publishes some nar- 

 ratives that throw light upon the cougar's character. Re- 

 venge is not a very powerful or persistent passion in the 



