Puma 399 



both young and old — by reason of its depredations. Like other large 

 cats, pumas are chietiv nocturnal in their movements, the twilight hours 

 being their favourite times for hunting ; occasionally, however, they may 

 be seen wandering about in broad daylight. In the wilder districts of 

 North America the various kinds of deer form its favourite prey, but it 

 will also devour, especially when hard pressed, many smaller mammals, 

 such as raccoons, skunks, and even porcupines, together with any birds it 

 may succeed in taking by surprise. In Brazil, according to Dr. E. Goeldi, 

 much of its food is formed by cutias, pacas, coatis, and other small animals. 

 But in Argentina and Patagonia it is a terrible foe to the few species of 

 larger mammals inhabiting those districts, preying indiscriminately on deer, 

 guanacos, vicugnas, and the rhea, or American ostrich. Small mammals, 

 such as the viscacha, are, however, by no means neglected ; and even the 

 bony armour of the armadillo forms no protection to its owner, whose soft 

 parts are scooped out by the agile paw of the tawny cat. In a word, 

 nothing comes amiss to the all -devouring maw of this unscrupulous 

 marauder. Nor is even a meal of carrion rejected when occasion occurs. 

 Wherever pumas abound it is practically impossible to rear horses, 

 this being true alike for North and South America. In 1887 Mr. C. H. 

 Townsend wrote as follows in regard to the depredations of pumas in the 

 Shasta range of California : — " It is practically impossible to raise colts in 

 the Shasta County hills on account of these pests. They destroy many 

 hogs and young cattle also, but do not present so serious an impediment to 

 the keeping of these animals as in the case of horses. Mr. J. B. Campbell, 

 who trapped two panthers for me in 1883, told me that he had actually 

 never seen more than two or three of the numerous colts on his stock- 

 range, as they had been killed and devoured by panthers soon after birth." 

 Mr. Hudson gives testimony of a similar nature in regard to Patagonia. 



The one redeeming trait in the character of the puma is the rarity of 

 its attacks on human beings, this seldom, if ever, taking place except when 



