MOUNTAIN LION 97 



eyes were just open and they were judged to be about ten days old. This 

 is the litter mentioned in an article in California Fish and Game (vol. 4, 

 1918, pp. 152-153). The kittens were taken to Yosemite Valley where one 

 of the females was successfully reared "on the bottle" by Mr. and Mrs. 

 Gabriel Souvelewsky. 



The authors saw this lioness in May, 1919, when she measured 30 inches 

 from nose to base of tail and 21 inches from base to tip of tail, and weighed, 

 by estimate, about 40 pounds. Her coloration was rich warm brown with 

 small light tawny areas about the face. In a cage adjoining the one 

 occupied by this native lion (Felis o. oregonensis) were two Rocky Moun- 

 tain Lions (Felis o. hippolestes) , from Yellowstone National Park. These 

 were of paler, tawny yellow, coloration with whitish facial areas. They 

 were of such a disagreeable disposition that their cage could be entered 

 only with extreme caution. The Wawona lioness, on the other hand, was 

 quite tame and permitted grown persons and even children to enter her 

 cage freely. The animal was kitten-like in demeanor, romping with the 

 children and chasing a ball in playful fashion. Whenever it struck, its 

 claws were kept retracted so that a person would feel the impact of only 

 the big furry paw. Once while several people were in the cage the cat 

 jumped on the back of the junior author and the momentum, even at short 

 range, was almost enough to cause him to lose his balance. Even in later 

 years, we have been told, this individual still exhibited a high degree of 

 lameness, although greater caution was exercised in entering her cage. 



When the kitten sighted persons or animals at a distance it would gaze 

 at them intently, meanwhile moving its big furry tail slowly from side to 

 side. Children in particular seemed to hold its attention. It was surpris- 

 ing to note the distance at which the lioness caught sight of moving objects. 

 This suggested a reason for the fact that Mountain Lions are seldom seen 

 by people — the lions see the people first and quickly take themselves off. 



The captive animal was most active during the morning and evening 

 hours. The mid-day usually found her drowsy. One of our visits was at 

 dusk when the lioness was very active and keenly alert to all that was 

 going on. In this connection it may be recalled that Mule Deer are most 

 active in the early and late hours of the day. 



The preferred food of the Mountain Lion is deer. Whenever evidence 

 of a reliable nature has been obtained it points to the fact that the deer 

 contributes by far the largest portion of the lion's fare. The current 

 estimate is at least one deer a week for each adult or sub-adult lion. The 

 lion stealthily creeps up within a short distance of the deer, then with a 

 few quick bounds, reaches its quarry and strikes it down. Sometimes a 

 large portion of the deer is eaten, at others, only a small part is taken. 

 The lion may or may not return to its kill for a subsequent meal. Some- 



