COUSINS OF CATS 237 



the Deer, one chasing it in a circle while the other lay 

 hidden in the run^A^ay to pull it down as it passed ? " 



" Yes, yes, we all do ! " chorused the children. 



" The Puma hunts singly more than in couples, so 

 instead of driving the Deer or Elk (it never tries a fully 

 grown Moose) it notes the runway and Avaits for the Deer 

 to pass the spot where it is crouching. A successful 

 spring will land the Puma on the haunches of his vic- 

 tim, where he fastens his claws until he can give the 

 killing' throat bite. But oftentimes the Deer starts 

 quickly and the Puma is ' too late,' and the Elk escapes, 

 like those in the picture. 



" In snow time alone, the Puma seems to hunt by 

 chasing as well as by the stalk and leap. He can 

 spread his broad paws so as to make snow-shoes of them, 

 keeping on the surface while the small, sharp hoofs of 

 the Deer cause them to sink. In this again he hunts 

 like some sportsmen, who take a mean advantage of the 

 heavy jNIoose and Elk ploughing wearily through deep 

 snow, to follow them on snow-shoes without having the 

 Puma's rightful excuse of hunger." 



The children laid the Ocelot, Wildcat, and Puma 

 skins on the floor, comparing and talking about them, 

 while (^live went for the crackers to toast. 



Finally Dodo folded lier arms, looked up with a sigh, 

 and said solemnly, "Even if Pumas do not eat people, 

 I'm ver}^ much relieved to know that they have re- 

 treated a long way inland," being perfectly unconscious 

 that she was imitating Dr. Roy's speech and deliberate 

 manner, and not understanding why he laughed so 

 heartily that his " near to " eye-glasses bounced into 

 the fire. 



