WILD CAT. 221 



suddenly, was thrown down the hill, and a few moments 

 afterwards we dragged out the dead panther. It had 

 seized the bitch by the throat. Polly's keen eyes saw the 

 situation, saved the dog, and settled the affair by a shot 

 in the panther's brains. 



I have been told that the panther is more prolific 

 than the cougar, the female producing as many as four at 

 a birth. I think it probable, as they are more plentiful 

 than the cougar, but I am not able to state it as a fact. 



WILD CAT. 



This animal is widely diffused through almost all por- 

 tions of the territory of the United States. On the plains, 

 however, it attains a size unknown to its relations in 

 the eastern States. I once killed one in the Eule Creek 

 canons south of the Arkansas, which, without the 

 viscera, removed at the time of killing, weighed a week 

 afterwards, when it had become thoroughly dry, fifty-four 

 pounds. This is nearly three times larger than any I 

 have ever seen in the mountains of North Carolina, where 

 they are thought to attain their maximum proportions. 



The wild cat is more common and more easily killed 

 without dogs than any of the larger carnivora of the plains, 

 yet it cannot be relied on for sport unless the hunter 

 has one or more dogs especially educated for its pur- 

 suit. Of all the carnivora, it yields the best sport when 

 hunted with dogs, running with great speed and endur- 

 ance, taking refuge in a tree when tired, but on the 

 approach of the hunter bounding off again, leading 

 hunter and pack a merry race over rocks and through 

 thickets for many a mile before yielding up his life. It 

 is no more dangerous than a house cat except that it 

 inflicts a severer wound. 



It is the most destructive of plains animals, except, 

 possibly, the skunk, feeding by day or night ; now de- 

 stroying a brood of young grouse or quail, now climbing 



