PART I. 



GAME ANIMALS OF NOPJE AMERICA. 



CATS. 



Felis concolor. — Linn. Puma, Panther, Cougar, Mountain Lion. 



THE Cougar is, with the exception of the Jaguar, Felis onca, 

 which is scarcely, or not at all, found within the limits of the 

 United States, the largest of the American cats. Its range is very- 

 extensive, including temperate and tropical America from Canada 

 to Patagonia. In height it is about equal to a large dog, but the 

 body is much longer proportionally, and a large animal will weigh 

 one hundred and fifty pounds. The tail is long and tapering, and 

 this point will serve to distinguish it, even when young, from either 

 of the two species to be hereafter mentioned. The color of the 

 Cougar is a uniform pale brown above and dusky white below ; the 

 tips of the hairs are blackish brown. Young kittens of this species 

 are at first spotted on the flanks, but attain the colors of the pa- 

 rent before reaching their full size. 



The Cougar preys upon deer, sheep, colts, calves and small quad- 

 rupeds generally, and when numerous it proves very troublesome to 

 the larmer and stock raiser. When, however, its prey is so large 

 that it cannot all be devoured at one meal, the animal covers it 

 with leaves or buries it in the earth and leaves it for a time, return- 

 ing later to finish his repast. This habit is sometimes taken advan- 

 tage of by his human enemy, who, poisoning the hidden care asswith 

 strj'chnine, often manages to secure the Panther when it comes back 

 to eat again. The use of poison against carnivorous animals of all 

 kinds has become so general in the west within the past few years, 

 that they are rapidly becoming exterminated in all districts within 

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