364 APPENDIX 



that you say there is little or no difference as among the 

 tiger, lion, leopard, and jaguar, comparing species with species. 



" With regard, sincerely yours, 



" THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 

 "FRANK C. BOSTOCK, ESQ., NEW YORK, N. Y. " 



' RlDGEFIELD, CoNN., July \J , 1905. 



"THEODORE ROOSEVELT, ESQ. 



" DEAR SIR : I see by the papers that you have written 

 to Mr. Bostock asking a question about the puma. As I 

 wrote the entire book, * The Training of Wild Animals,' 

 from facts given me by Mr. Bostock and his trainers, added 

 to my own personal knowledge and study, I think I can 

 answer your question, which may be useful in addition to any 

 information Mr. Bostock may send you, which cannot reach 

 you for some little time. 



" In my own opinion, the puma is not nearly so formidable 

 as either the tiger, jaguar, lion, or leopard it is, as a rule, a 

 timid and, unless unexpectedly surprised, cowardly creature. 



" I spent many weeks in Mr. Bostock's animal show before 

 writing the book, studying the animals from every point of 

 view. Yours very truly, 



" ELLEN VELVIN, F.Z.S." 



"RlDGEFIELD, CONN., July 3!, 1905. 



"THEODORE ROOSEVELT, ESQ. 



" DEAR SIR : Very many thanks for your kind letter. My 

 own personal experiences with pumas in captivity (I know 

 nothing personally about them in their wild state) confirms 

 my impression that they are not in any way as formidable as 

 either the tiger, jaguar, lion, or leopard, as I said in my last 

 letter. I have often watched for hours at a time wild animals 

 being trained, and in nearly all cases of the big carnivora there 

 is rage, resentment, and finally enforced submission. Habit, 



