218 GAME. 



suers. Should a man appear on the scene, he ceases to 

 watch the dogs, and, dropping in a crouching position 

 on the branch, prepares for a spring. Under such circum- 

 stances I would advise no one to approach within thirty 

 or even forty feet. He is now, of course, easily bagged ; 

 but no bungler with the rifle should be allowed to shoot 

 at him, as, when wounded, he is a desperate and most for- 

 midable antagonist, dangerous to the hunter, and sure to 

 kill some and lacerate others of the dogs. A bullet through 

 the brain is the only perfect safety, and none should fire 

 except the rifleman sure of his aim. 



A pair generally live together, selecting for their 

 home a cave or overhanging rock. In default of these 

 a den is not unfrequently constructed in some dense 

 thicket, leaves and bough being so piled together as not 

 only to make a bed, but the sides and even the top are 

 somewhat protected from the winds and weather. I once 

 found such a den in a thicket on the bank of the Laramie 

 Eiver. Near it were lying the skeletons of a large elk, 

 of a fine black-tailed deer, and of a huge buffalo wolf. 

 The latter had evidently been attracted by the scent of the 

 fresh meat, and, prowling near in the hope of a meal, had 

 himself served as dinner for his more powerful and vora- 

 cious conquerors. 



The female gives birth to a pair of young, with which 

 it is by no means safe to meddle, even when found alone. 

 One or other of the parents is sure to be not far off, and 

 a cry of the young one will bring on the intruder an 

 encounter by no means agreeable. 



PANTHER. 



This is nearly the same animal on a smaller scale. The 

 cougar is almost a lion. The panther is but a huge cat. 

 It is much more plentiful than the cougar. It lies in the 

 thickets by day, and prowls at night. It is equally 

 difficult to bag without dogs, and even more easy with 



