II THE FATHER OF GAME 49 



for instances are numerous where the panther has 

 carried off not only deer that had been left out 

 over night, but has taken game from before the 

 very eyes of the sportsman. " One day," says 

 Perry, " when shooting rabbits, I tied together a 

 number that I had killed, and hung them on the 

 branch of an alder which overhung the path. 

 Returning along the same path shortly after, I 

 met a cougar trotting leisurely along with my 

 rabbits in his mouth. Having a shell loaded with 

 buckshot, he paid for his dishonesty with his life." 



The puma was quick to avail itself of the intro- 

 duction of domestic cattle, and began to prey upon 

 the settlers' pastures from the start. It has a par- 

 ticular penchant for horseflesh, and ravages the 

 herds of Indian ponies on the plains and pampas, 

 attacking first the colts, but often killing full-grown 

 horses and mares. This may explain several re- 

 corded incidents of cougars leaping upon the horse 

 of a traveller, but fleeing when they discovered the 

 man in the saddle, even when, as usually happened, 

 he had been dismounted by the plunging of the 

 animal. The cougar probably failed to recognize 

 the human being in that unaccustomed attitude, 

 and was as much surprised as the man. 



Calves, sheep, and hogs are also preyed upon ; 

 and in the grazing districts of South America and 

 our far West the cougars are yet so numerous, 

 wherever a rough country offers them secure re- 

 treats, as to make a serious drawback in some 



