4 io THE CARNIVORES 



Although the works of the older writers abound with references to the piercing 

 cries and startling screams of the puma, it would seem that in general the animal is 

 silent. Darwin states that in South America the only occasion on which it utters 

 any sound is during the breeding season, and even then but rarely, while, when 

 wounded, it always remains silent. From accounts given him by the hunters of the 

 Adirondacks, Dr. Merriam came to the conclusion that the screams of the puma 

 were a total myth, the cries which have been attributed to it being uttered by other 

 animals. Against this, it may be observed that Messrs. Kennerby and Schott, when 

 surveying in Mexico in 1858, state that on more than one occasion they heard loud 

 cries which they attributed (on what evidence does not appear) to the puma. 

 Moreover, Dr. J. A. Allen in Colorado, and Mr. D. G. Eliot in Florida, speak of 

 having heard the puma's cry, although the latter writer, at any rate did not see the 

 animal. More important is the observation recorded by Mr. Schott to the effect 

 that a puma killed on the Rio Bravo, between Fort Duncan and L,aredo, "during 

 his struggle with the hunters and dogs raised a terrible cry, twice or thrice to ex- 

 . press his rage, and perhaps also to give his family the notice of danger." It would 

 seem, therefore, that, although generally a silent creature, the puma may on rare 

 occasions and more especially when wounded give vent to a cry or scream, 

 which is described as being of the most weird and unearthly nature. 



When captured young, pumas thrive well in captivity, and are gentle and 

 affectionate in disposition towards human beings, although they but rarely overcome 

 their innate antipathy to dogs. If, however, not taken till adult, they appear in all 

 cases to pine and languish. Mr. Hudson writes that "the puma, is with the excep- 

 tion of some monkeys, the most playful animal in existence. The young of all the 

 Felidcs spend a large portion of their time in characteristic gambols. The adults, 

 however, acquire a grave and dignified demeanor, only the female playing on occa- 

 sions with her offspring, but this she always does with a certain formality of man- 

 ner, as if the relaxation were indulged in not spontaneously but for the sake of the 

 young, and as being a necessary part of their education. . . . The puma at 

 heart is always a kitten, taking unmeasured delight in its frolics ; and when as often 

 happens, one lives alone in the desert, it will amuse itself by the hour fighting mock 

 battles, or playing at hide-and-seek with imaginary companions, and lying in wait 

 and putting all its wonderful strategy in practice to capture a passing butterfly. 

 Azara kept a young male for four months, which spent its whole time playing with 

 the slaves. This animal, he says, would not refuse any food offered to it ; but 

 when not hungry it would bury the meat in the sand, and when inclined to eat it 

 would dig it up, and, taking it to the water-trough, wash it clean. I have only 

 known one puma kept as a pet, and this animal, in seven or eight years had never 

 shown a trace of ill-temper. When approached, he would lie down, purring loudly, 

 and twist himself about a person's legs, begging to be caressed. A string or hand- 

 kerchief drawn about was sufficient to keep him in a happy state of excitement for 

 an hour, and when one person was tired of playing with him he was ready for a 

 game with the next comer. ' ' 



A tame puma, of which the skeleton is now preserved in the Museum of the 

 Royal College of Surgeons, was kept as a pet by Edmund Kean, the actor. It 



