APPENDIX 



THE following letters explain themselves. It would 

 seem that not only when wild but when in a menagerie 

 the cougar is a much less dangerous animal than the 

 jaguar or leopard; and it also looks as if it were more 

 mild-tempered, and indeed playful, than either of the 

 big spotted cats. In the wild state, I personally have not 

 happened to come across instances of full-grown pumas 

 frolicking or playing, except when two were mating; but 

 I have known young pumas to play. 



"OYSTER BAY, N. Y., July 18, 1905. 



" MY DEAR MR. BOSTOCK : 



"In connection with your book on the training of wild 

 animals, in which I was greatly interested, I would like to ask 

 whether you find that the puma or cougar shows a different 

 kind of temper from the leopard or old world panther, and 

 from the jaguar ? I ask this, because in hunting it I have 

 found it to be, compared to the big bear, a cowardly animal, 

 and if what I read of the danger of hunting the Indian and 

 African leopard is true, then the puma is not nearly as for- 

 midable as the leopard or the jaguar in short, is not nearly 

 so formidable as the big spotted cats, though it is as big and 

 as formidably armed. Have you noticed any difference in 

 your work among these species, taking the average of one 

 and comparing it, as to temper, ferocity, etc., with the average 

 of the other ? Of course there are wide individual differ- 

 ences ; but that is not what I am after at present. I notice 



363 



