APPENDIX 365 



constant insistence, and the superior will of a strong-minded 

 man or woman generally gain the day after endless trouble, 

 patience, and what at times appears like useless repetitions. 

 This applies to lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, bears, hyenas, 

 sloth bears, elephants, and chimpanzees. With the puma it 

 is different. 



" When studying in the show, I found that it was next to 

 impossible to get even a look from a lion, tiger, cheetah, leop- 

 ard, or jaguar, no matter what cries, movements, or methods 

 I employed, unless I touched the bars or doors of their cages. 

 Then there would be an instant transformation. With a 

 vicious growl or snarl, and with tail straight and stiff, the lion 

 would spring forward with such a sudden bound that I would 

 draw back unconsciously. The tiger would swing his tail in 

 a gentle manner, but the growl and gleam of eyes and teeth 

 would tell what he would do if he were only able. The leop- 

 ards and jaguars would behave in the same manner ; the bears 

 would move forward heavily, but with deadly intention, but 

 in all cases I found the puma playful and ready for any little 

 bit of fun like a young kitten. Even when being taught 

 tricks pumas are not easily taught anything they generally 

 seemed to have the idea that the trainer was playing with 

 them. There would occasionally be a snarl and a hiss, but 

 these always ended in a playful pat and a stolid indifference. 

 I used to shake my muff it had tails of fur on either side 

 at two pumas, and they would roll over on the floor with 

 delight, pat the tip of it through the bars, and purr their 

 loudest. 



" It is the same with four fine pumas in the New York 

 Zoological Park. By waving something at them and talking 

 in a gentle manner, one or the other, sometimes all four, will 

 come forward, play like kittens, and purr loudly. I have 

 often put my hands through the bars and stroked them over 

 the head and ears, seemingly to their great pleasure, but to do 



