14: NEIGHBORS WITH CLAWS AND HOOFS. 



tiger, the spots of tlie leopard, and the rosettes of the 

 jaguar ; but the full-grown animal possesses a tawny-red 



color, 



almost' uni- 

 form over the 

 whole body, and 

 hence the inference 

 that it is like the 

 lion. In different 

 parts of the coun- 

 try it has been 

 called by different 

 names, as panther, 

 or ' painter,' and 

 mountain - lion, or 

 cougar. The true 

 panther is a differ- 

 ent animal, and 

 lives in Africa. 



9. "In form the 



puma is less attractive than the generality of its species, 

 there being an apparent want of symmetry. Its back is 

 hollow, its legs short and thick, and its tail does not grace- 

 fully taper. Yet Nature has given to the puma other 

 qualities as a compensation, the most remarkable of which 

 is its power to render itself quite invisible ; for so cun- 

 ningly tinged is its fur, that it perfectly mingles with the 

 bark of trees, and, stretched out upon a limb, or even ex- 

 tended upon the floor of its dimly-lighted cage, it is diffi- 

 cult to be assured of its presence. 



10. "A hunter on the Rio Grande, who was always 

 successful, became so annoyed by the taunts of his com- 

 panions that he determined to adopt the Coma,nche Indian 

 fashion of hunting, and accordingly dressed himself in a 

 deer-skin and ornamented his head with huge antlers. 



The Puma and Deer. 



