68 BULLETIN NO VII 
The courage is not great and, unless impelled by hunger or 
despair, it never attacks dogs or horses—much less man. 
During severe winters the puma may be driven to eat the por- 
cupine and there are well authenticated instances where the 
animal has fallen a victim to his temerity. The prey seems 
not to be carried to the den which is in contrast with the habit 
of other beasts. It is said to kill its prey instantly by drawing 
back the head with the paw until the neck is broken. The 
ordinary cry of the puma is a sort of ‘‘mew” on a larger scale 
and more prolonged than that of the domestic cat. The male 
growls when disturbed and, especially in the pairing season, 
gives vent to wild and unearthly cries which have wrought 
upon the superstitions of the frontiersman. 
It is stated that the puma or ‘‘painter,” utters wailing human 
cries in order to lure the belated traveler to destruction. All 
such stories can easily be understood if one will take the pains 
to conceive of the result if the caterwauling of a domestic cat 
were magnified four or five times in power and singularity. 
The female makes an affectionate mother. The young are 
carried 96—97 days and are suckled until half grown. 
The young are born in the spring in northern regions, but 
farther south considerably later. Audubon found half-grown 
pumas in Texas in February. 
Pumas do not hunt in packs as do the various species of the 
dog family, but until the kittens are grown they sometimes 
hunt in pairs. : 
No opportunity has been afforded for gathering anatomical 
details and the reader is referred to Audubon for additional 
information as to the habits of this species. 
The most recent occurrence of the puma in Minnesota was 
in 1875 when a single individual was killed in Sunrise, Chisago 
Co. The following extracts contain all notices of this animal 
which I have been able to gather from the earlier writings:. 
In ‘“‘Carver’s Travels” p. 413, is the following account of 
the puma which seems by the context to be credited to the 
‘“Chipeway River.” ‘‘The TYGER. The tyger of America 
resembles those of Africa and Asia, but is considerably smaller. 
Nor does it appear to be so fierce and ravenous as they are. 
The color of itis a darkish sallow, and it is entirely free from 
spots.” ‘It is very seldom met within this part of the world.” 
Mr. Merriam! gives the following statement concerning the 
panther: 
1 “41 The mammals of the Adirondack regions of Northeastern New York. C. Hart Merriam, 
M.D. Cari as the Transactions of the Linnean Society of New York, 1884, under the 
same title 
