XV. 



HUNTING THE PANTHEK. 



TO the average Florida tourist, who sails luxuriously 

 up the St. John s, or stays idling at the hotel, the 

 idea that there are predatory animals in the State rarely 

 occurs. It is only to the camper-out that the privilege 

 of making their acquaintance is vouchsafed. If he 

 camp in a place sufficiently remote from civilization he 

 will probahly be favored with a sight at the animal men 

 tioned above. It is more than likely that he will be 

 favored with its moaning cry, or see its signs about his 

 camp. The panther is so rarely seen, however, that it 

 is regarded as mythical by many men professing to be 

 hunters. It has been my rare good fortune to meet 

 with, and be in at the death of one, and soon after the 

 demise of several others. There is a vast difference 

 existing between this panther, tiger, or puma, and the 

 wild-cat, or lynx. The latter animal, and another, the 

 catamount, occur in Florida, but are not half the size of 

 the panther. The latter has been found measuring nine 

 feet from tip to tip. I have seen one measuring eight 

 feet four inches, and have the skin of one measuring 

 eight feet good. In color, the panther is a yellowish- 

 brown, darker on the back, growing to a yellowish- 

 white on the belly. It has great strength, and no pack 

 of dogs can successfully attack one. It frequents the 



