194 SKULKING PUMA. 



the same direction, however, I perceived on a limb 

 twenty feet from the ground, and which traversed 

 exactly the course I was taking, a panther (puma), 

 his head over his left leg, his eye fixed on me, the 

 whole body, save a few inches of the tail, perfectly 

 still. The brute's colour was so thoroughly assimi- 

 lated to that of the surrounding trees, that it no 

 longer appeared to me a matter of wonder that I 

 had not distinguished it when fifty yards further off. 

 Now that I was aware of the vicinity of this agile 

 animal I had nothing to fear ; but, from its attitude 

 and expression, I have little doubt that if I had 

 passed under its perch it would have sprung upon 

 me, when its impetus, combined with its weight, 

 would have in an instant prostrated me, and perhaps 

 have rendered me insensible. The moment the 

 puma became aware that it was detected its whole 

 manner changed, and it exhibited signs of nervous 

 timidity, the occasional furtive glances that it cast 

 around plainly expressing a desire to remove from 

 its present position, though it had the instinct not 

 to make too hasty a movement. 



Detecting in the brute a skulking coward, I at 

 once took the offensive, being eager to obtain pos- 

 session of his beautiful soft coat, which, transformed 

 into a rug, would be useful. 



Without further delay, therefore, I aimed for 

 behind the shoulder. The bark splintered from the 

 limb on which the creature was stretched, and, at 

 the same time, the puma sprang headlong, but with- 



