THE COUGAR 



to several dens if followed far enough. On sev- 

 eral occasions I have shot two or even three males 

 of a species near a den within a week or so, 

 the desire to kill the female being on every oc- 

 casion responsible for the long-continued watch. 



In following a track with the purpose of hunt- 

 ing up a den it makes but little difference whether 

 the trail be fresh or old. A trail two weeks old, 

 but made after a rain, is often more easily fol- 

 lowed than a fresher one, and will as well lead to 

 the den's vicinity, as the latter very often could 

 not be followed at all on hard ground; and a 

 back-trail often leads more quickly to the den 

 than one leading ahead. Prevailing conditions 

 of weather and lay of country should govern the 

 tracker's choice of which trail to follow. He 

 must know that he has to follow the back track 

 if it come from rough country, for the den is 

 more likely situated there than elsewhere. 



A den that contains young cougars is readily 

 recognized by the superabundance of carcasses 

 of game lying around its vicinity. 



Certainly unless due regard is given to the 

 extermination of predatory animals, it is impos- 



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