TIE CLOUDED LEOPARD 113 
attached to the Horses’ necks at liberty to jingle, hobbled 
the animals, and left them to shift for themselves. 
‘“‘ After marching for a couple of hours, we again heard the 
Dogs. Each of us’ pressed forward, elated at the thought of 
terminating the career of the Cougar. Some of the Dogs were 
heard whining, although the greater number barked vehe- 
mently. We felt assured that the Cougar was treed, and that 
he would rest for some time to recover from his fatigue. As we 
came up to the Dogs, we discovered the ferocious animal lying 
across a large branch, close to the trunk of a cotton-wood tree. 
His broad breast lay towards us ; his eyes were at one time 
bent on us, and again on the Dogs beneath and around 
him ; one of his fore-legs hung loosely by his side ; and he lay 
crouched, with his ears lowered close to his head, as if he 
thought he might lay undiscovered. Three balls were fired at 
him, at a given signal, on which he sprang a few feet from the 
branch, and tumbled headlong to the ground. Attacked on 
all sides by the enraged curs, the infuriated Cougar fought 
with valour ; but the squatter, advancing in front of the party, 
and almost in the midst of the Dogs, shot him immediately 
behind and beneath the left shoulder. The Cougar writhed 
for a moment in agony, and in another lay dead.” 
By some of the Indians of South America, as well as by 
certain native tribes in the northern half of the New World, 
Puma-flesh is largely eaten ; and Darwin, who essayed the same 
dish, reported of it favourably. 
Fossil remains of the Puma have been discovered in the 
Pleistocene deposits of several parts of North America. 
VII. THE CLOUDED LEOPARD. FELIS NEBULOSA. 
Felis nebulosa, Griffith, Descript. Vert. p. 37 (1821); Blanford, 
Mamm. Brit. India, p. 72 (1888) ; Hose, Mamm. Borneo 
p- 17 (1893). 
