6 THE PENNSYLVANIA LION OR PANTHER. 



with every other living thing from the paroquet to the 

 heath-cock, from the northern hare to the pine marten, 

 from the passenger pigeon to the wild turkey, without 

 trying to study it, or give it a chance. Economically 

 the panther was of great value for the hide, meat, and 

 oil, and as the finest game animal which Pennsylvania 

 produced. As former Governor Glynn, of New York, 

 said in a message to the Legislature, "Game should be 

 conserved to furnish a cheap food supply." In the fol- 

 lowing pages will be found the bulk of the information 

 wdiich the writer has been able to collect on the sub- 

 ject of the panther in Pennsylvania. It has been pre- 

 pared from the point of view of the old hunters, whom 

 the writer has interviewed. While there are some 

 statements which are liable to be declared scientifically 

 incorrect, they are printed for what they are worth, 

 as the authorities were as reliable as unscientific ob- 

 servers can be. The writer has consulted practically 

 every book which contains a mention of the panther 

 in the Keystone State, and also many other works on 

 the cougar of the United States and Central and South 

 America. He does not seek to "split hairs" and make 

 the Pennsylvania Lion a separate variety, greater or 

 grander than its relatives in other parts. The state- 

 ment is herein made that Pennsylvania panthers were 

 the largest known in the East, and this the writer be- 

 lieves to be correct. The romantic part of the panther's 

 sojourn among us has been dilated upon whenever 

 possible. This animal, above all others, added most to 

 the legendary lore of the State. But the chief eft'ort 



