THE PUMA. 107 
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 (2/ea) 
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 anc 
Guanaco, and springing like lightning on them, dislocates ¢) 
necks before their bodies touch the ground. Ofte: 
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.” 
