r I MA . — Leopard t/.'^ concolor. 



\\\v. Plma is an inliahitant of Aniorirn, \vlR'rc it is cimnoously called the 

 Panther or sometimes the Lion. Its colour is a heantifnl ])ale tawny, fading 

 into pnre wliite helow. It is a *(reat climber of trees, and is fond of lying 

 tint npon the branches, where it can hardly be distingnished from the bark, and 

 lea])ing ni)on any nnfortnnate animal that may pass beneath. 



Until it has learned from ])ninfnl e\])eriencc a wholesome fear of man, the Pnma 

 is apt to be a dangerons neighboui-. Jt is known to track luunan beings throngh 

 long distances, awaiting an opportunity of springing nnobscrvedly upon a heedless 

 ))asser-by. A wellknown traveller in American forest lands told me candidly, 

 that he always ran away from " Grizzlys," z.c. grizzly beai-s, but that "Painters 

 were of no account." He said that as long as a traveller could keep a Puma in 

 sight, he need fear no danger from the animal, for that it would not leap upon him 

 as long as its movements arc watched. 



Although it is not an object of personal dread to the civilized inhabitants of the 

 forest lands, the Puma is a pestilent neighbour to the farmer, committing sad 

 iiavoc among his tiocks and herds, and acting with such consumate cratl, that it 

 can seldom be aiTestcd in the act of destruction, or precluded from achieving it. 

 \o less than fifty sheep have fallen victims to the Puma in a sincrle night. It is 



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