282 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. XL 



have seen nothing and heard but httle ; a noted hunter told me he had 

 followed hunting steadily (an American phrase) for twenty years, and 

 had never seen one; but that others who had hunted but little, had 

 sometimes killed one." Kennicott (1854) says, "A single individual 

 has been known in the county" [Cook Co.]. (/. c, p. 578.) Thomas 

 (i860) says, "Very few if any found in the state (Illinois), though it 

 has occasionally been seen within the last few years (/. c, p. 653). 



Mr. J. E. Andrews writes me that the last Panther was killed in 

 Macoupin County, Illinois, about 1840; and Mr. C. J. Boyd of Anna, 

 Illinois, informs me that one was killed east of Thebes in Alexander 

 Co., about 1862. Judge R. M. Barnes of Lacon, Illinois, writes me that 

 his grandfather killed one northeast of Galena, Jo Daviess Co., about 

 1840, but he is in doubt as to the exact year. There have been rumors 

 of these animals having been observed in southern Illinois at a much 

 later date ; but all rest upon hearsay evidence and are of comparatively 

 little value. Nevertheless, from among a number of letters I have 

 received from residents in that locality, two at least are worthy of 

 mention: Mr. J. C. Baker of Golconda, Illinois, writes that he is 

 informed upon good authority (and has faith in the statement) that a 

 Panther was seen in Pope County in the fall of 1905; and Mr. A. W. 

 Williams of Ava, Jackson Co., writes, "We still hear of people seeing 

 Panthers occasionally among the hills and bluffs of the Mississippi River." 



Hahn is of the opinion that these animals became extinct in Indiana 

 about the year 1850 (/. c, p. 540). Mr. E. J. Chansler, an old resident 

 of Bicknell, Indiana, writes me that he has records of at least three 

 Panthers having been seen or killed in Knox and Daviess counties in 

 that State , the latest being one near Vincennes ,ini837,byFelixB ouchie . 



In Wisconsin we have reason to believe that a few individuals existed 

 until a comparatively recent date. Dr. Hoy (1882) says, "A few pan- 

 thers, Felis Concolor, are yet with us; a straggler is. occasionally seen. 

 Benjamin Bones of Racine shot one on the head waters of Black River, 

 December, 1863." (/. c, p. 256.) Strong (1883) says, "Found rarely 

 in the northern part of the state." {I. c, p. 436.) Mr. E. C. Bratlie of 

 Westly informs me that a Panther was killed in Vernon County a few 

 miles from his town about forty years ago(i87o?). Mr. George A. 

 Williams of Kremlin, Marinette Co., writes, "Two Panthers were 

 seen by Nelson and Albert Chapman and Ray Williams in this county 

 on January 2, 1909. This information is reliable." Mr. Daniel Farn- 

 ham of Manly, Douglas Co., writes, "There was a Panther killed in 

 Douglas County about three or four years ago and one shot at last 

 winter but not killed." While records of animals seen and not killed 

 are unsatisfactory from a scientific standpoint, owing to possible error 



