THE PUMA. 67 



till daybreak, and then only feeling safe from her enemy, 

 she went as fast as her strength would let her to her nearest 

 neighbour's a distance of two miles, where she procured 

 help for her wounded fingers, which were long in getting 

 well. On his return, her husband found a male and female 

 jaguar with their cubs, in the forest close by, and all were 

 destroyed." 



The Puma. The Puma, or American lion, is known by 

 several names. It is sometimes called a panther, or collo- 

 quially a "painter", and sometimes a cougar. It resembles 

 the lioness somewhat in appearance, especially about the 

 head, though it is smaller and less powerful. Its length 

 varies from four feet to four feet and a half, and its 

 colour is that of the fox, graduating in parts to white. Like 

 the lion it inhabits plains rather than forests ; in the marshy 

 districts, and on the borders of rivers in the south, and in 

 the swamps and prairies of the northern districts. It lives on 

 such wild and domestic animals as come within its reach, 

 lying at full length upon the lower branches of trees, and 

 dropping upon its victims as they pass beneath. Deer and 

 cattle of all kinds it attacks, and, not content with killing 

 enough for immediate purposes, destroys large numbers, suck- 

 ing small quantities of blood from each. According to Sir 

 William Jardine it is exceedingly destructive among sheep 

 and has been known to kill fifty in one night. The Puma is, 

 however, easily tamed and becomes very docile under kindly 

 treatment. Edward Kean kept a tame one which followed 

 him about like a dog and was as playful as a kitten. 



The Puma's "Molina and D'Azara say," says Sir William 

 Ferocity. Jardine, " that the puma will flee from men, and 

 that its timidity renders its pursuit generally free from dan- 

 ger." The following incident given by Sir William Jardine 

 and at greater length by Captain Brown, shows that this is 

 not always the case. According to these accounts, two 

 hunters visited the Katskills in pursuit of game, each armed 



