THE PUMA. I05 



products of North America were first made known to the Old 

 World, the Puma was indeed believed to be specifically iden- 

 tical with the Lion, and the early explorers were accordingly 

 puzzled to account for the absence of maned individuals. 

 Thus, in the second edition of the " Description of the New 

 Netherlands," published in 1656, Van der Donck writes as 

 follows : "Although the New Netherlands lay in a fine climate, 

 and although the country in winter seems rather cold, never- 

 theless Lions are found there, but net by the Christians, who 

 have travelled the land wide and broad and have not seen one. 

 It is only known to us by the skins of the females, which are 

 sometimes brought in by the Indians for sale, who on enquiry 

 say that the Lions are found far to the south-west, distant fifteen 

 or twenty days' journey, in very high mountains, and that the 

 males are too active and fierce to be taken." 



From its extensive geographical range, probably greater in a 

 north and south direction than that of any other member of 

 the class to which it belongs, the Puma may be regarded 2JS>par 

 excellence the characteristic Mammal of the New World ; while 

 for the same reason the creature is remarkable for its power of 

 adapting itself to different climates and surroundings. Thus, 

 whereas in the more northern portion of its range it inhabits 

 the depths of the impassable forest-glades of Florida, it is some- 

 times found on the open prairies of Texas ; while in mountain- 

 ous regions it dwells amongst the most rocky and barren peaks. 

 " He endures," writes Mr. True, "severe cold during the winter 

 in the Adirondack Mountains, and other parts of our northern 

 frontier, and tracks his prey in the snow. He is equally at 

 home in the hot swamps and cane-brakes along the river- 

 courses of our southern States. In South America he inhabits 

 the treeless grass-covered pampas as well as the forests. In the 

 Rocky Mountains he ascends to the high altitudes in which the 

 Mountain Sheep are found,. Mr, Stone saw tracks of the Puma 



