CA TS OF FOREST AND PRAIRIE. 



15 



Thus equipped he sallied out and took his place at a favor- 

 ite ' stand.' A few moments only elapsed before a puma, 

 perched in the limbs of the tree above, thinking that he 

 saw a ' sure-enough buck,' leaped from his airy abode 

 plump on the hunter's back, at the same time burying his 

 claws and teeth deeply into the dried skin. 



11. "A yell of fright and astonishment greeted the 

 puma such as never before was heard from the throat of 

 living venison, and, dropping his game, the animal and 

 the hunter took different directions, it being a matter of 

 uncertainty even to this day which of the two was most 

 alarmed." 



12. The lynx is a spotted animal, abounding in the 

 northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. It varies 

 in size, some spe- 

 cies being nearly as 



large as a wolf. 

 The ancients conse- 

 crated this animal 

 to Bacchus, and 

 Pliny tells about it 

 some absurd stories, 

 among which is that 

 it can see through a 

 wall. Hence the 

 expression lynx- 

 eyed, denoting keen 

 sight, which has 

 passed into our lan- 

 guage. This animal frequents mountains and wooded 

 districts, hunting in pairs, the female frequently followed 

 by her young. He reposes during the day, and goes 

 forth by night to seek his prey 



13. The hyena is not so much of a cat as the animals 



The Lynx. 



