,5 MAMMALIA. 



life by the lirutal attacks of these ferocious beasts. Even as cautious 

 and reliable a naturalist as Zadock Thompson quotes the following 

 appalling and blood-curdling tale as an authentic narrative: "Two 

 hilnters, accompanied by two dogs, went out in quest of game, near 

 the Catskill Mountains. At the foot of a large hill, they agreed to 

 go round it in opposite directions, and when either discharged his 

 rifle, the other was to hasten toward him to aid him in securing the 

 game. Soon after parting, the report of a rifle was heard by one of 

 them, who, hastening toward the spot, after some search, found noth- 

 ing but the dog, dreadfully lacerated and dead. He now became 

 much alarmed for the fate of his companion, and, while anxiously 

 looking round, was horror-struck by the harsh growl of a Catamount, 

 which he perceived on a large limb of a tree, crouching upon the 

 body of his friend, and apparently meditating an attack on himself. 

 Instantly he levelled his rifle at the beast, and was so fortunate as to 

 wound it mortally, when it fell to the ground along with the body of 

 his slaughtered companion. His dog then rushed upon the wound- 

 ed Catamount, which, with one blow of its paw, laid the poor crea- 

 ture dead by his side,"''' et cetera. The illustrious Audubon, in his 

 great work upon the Quadrupeds of North America, cautions the read- 

 er not to credit the legends of the vulgar in regard to the ferocity of 

 this animal, and its propensity to attack man, and then goes on to 

 picture midnight encounters and hair-breadth escapes almost as thrill- 

 ing and improbable as the story above quoted. Oh, the inconsist- 

 ency of man ! 



It is now so well known that the Panther is one of the most cow- 

 ardly of beasts, never attacking man unless wounded and cornered, 

 that it is unnecessary to do more than contradict the popular im- 

 pression to the contrary. 



2d. Couccntiii^s;- the I\[cthod of Capturing its Prey. 

 It is commonly and widely believed, and frequendy and boldl)' as- 



♦Naluinl and Civil History of Vermont, 1S42, p. 38. 



