126 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 



but these had already disappeared. The tail is co- 

 vered with thick fur, of the same colour with the 

 upper parts, and black at the tips ; and in all the 

 animals of this kind which we have seen, and also in 

 those which have been figured in the various works, 

 it was carried in the usual manner, and, upon any 

 excitement, was moved from side to side. The pre- 

 sent animal always carried it as represented in the 

 Plate, rolled or coiled up, and, Mr Wilson observes, 

 always pointed to the left side f . It looked as if it 

 was to be used for climbing. For this purpose it 

 was never employed, and an examination regarding 

 the cause was unfortunately at the time omitted. 



The puma, though very active in climbing, seems 

 more to frequent the grassy plains of the southern 

 part of America, and the marshy meadow-lands bor- 

 dering the rivers, than the forest ; and is found in a 

 country so open, as to be frequently taken by the 

 lasso, when attacking the herds> Upon the Pampas, 

 this is one of the most common methods of destroy- 

 ing it. Captain Head J, in his " Rough Notes," tells 

 us, as soon as the dogs unkennel a lion or tiger, they 



* In the sketch of an immature puma shewn to us by Dr 

 Traill, the spots upon the body and sides are very distinct ; 

 on the back they form a broken line. 



f Mr Macgillivray informs us, that he lately saw a puma 

 in the Zoological Garden at Dublin, with the tail always 

 carried in the same manner. 



Captain Head's Rough Notes of the Pampas and Cor- 

 dillera, p. 148. 



