THE PUMA. icy 



situated in a cave on the face of some almost inaccessible cliff 

 or ledge of rock ; whereas in the Southern United States it is 

 usually in a dense thicket or cane-brake, while in the Argen- 

 tine a mass of tall pampas-grass may form the shelter. In the 

 Southern States the lair consists of a rude kind of bed, formed 

 of sticks, leaves, twigs, grasses, or mosses, frequently protected 

 from rain by the long, pointed leaves of the overarching canes. 

 In the more northern United States the cubs are brought forth 

 at the close of winter, or the beginning of spring ; but in South 

 America during the summer, that is to say, towards the latter 

 part of December. In North America, at least, it is believed 

 that the female Puma does not breed more frequently than 

 once every two years. 



As regards food, in North America the Puma preys chiefly 

 upon the various kinds of Deer, but also kills and eats many 

 of the smaller Mammals, such as Raccoons and Skunks, 

 together with Porcupines, and such birds as it may be able to 

 capture. Writing of its habits in South America, Mr. W. H. 

 Hudson, in the "Proceedings of the Zoological Society" for 

 1872, observes that "to the insatiable, bloody appetite of this 

 animal nothing comes amiss ; he takes the male Ostrich {Rhea) 

 by surprise, and slays the wariest of wild things on its nest ; he 

 captures little birds with the dexterity of a Cat, and hunts for 

 diurnal Armadillos ; he comes unaware upon the Deer and 

 Guanaco, and springing like lightning on them, dislocates their 

 necks before their bodies touch the ground. Often after he 

 has slain them he leaves their bodies untouched for the Cara- 

 caras and Vulture to feast on, so great a delight does he take 

 in destroying life. The Viscacha falls an easy victim to this 

 subtle creature, and it is not to be wondered at that it be- 

 comes wild to excess and rare in regions hunted over by such 

 an enemy, even when all other conditions are favourable to its 

 existence." 



