CHAPTER XV 



JONES ON COUGARS 



THE mountain lion, or cougar, of our Rocky 

 Mountain region, is nothing more nor less 

 than the panther. He is a little different in 

 shape, color and size, which vary according to his 

 environment. The panther of the Rockies is usually 

 light, taking the grayish hue of the rocks. He is 

 stockier and heavier of build, and stronger of limb 

 than the Eastern species, which difference comes from 

 climbing mountains and springing down the cliffs 

 after his prey. 



In regions accessible to man, or where man is 

 encountered even rarely, the cougar is exceedingly 

 shy, seldom or never venturing from cover during 

 the day. He spends the hours of daylight high on 

 the most rugged cliffs, sleeping and basking in the 

 sunshine, and watching with wonderfully keen sight 

 the valleys below. His hearing equals his sight, and 

 if danger threatens, he always hears it in time to 

 skulk away unseen. At night he steals down the 

 mountain side toward deer or elk he has located dur 

 ing the day. Keeping to the lowest ravines and 



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