366 APPENDIX 



this to any of the other carnivora is a dangerous and fool- 

 hardy thing, as I have seen many a time. 



" I asked a trainer's opinion of pumas, and his answer 

 was that < there was nothing to be feared with them, but they 

 would never do much a jump through a ring being about 

 the most they would ever do, except sit on a pedestal and 

 swear.' Another trainer told me it was an easy thing to train 

 a puma, while a third told me it was almost impossible. The 

 fact is, that with these trainers, as with other men, some can 

 accomplish what others cannot, and so in many cases, after 

 hearing five or six versions, I had to draw my own conclusions 

 from personal observations, and sift out the truth from the 

 many little embellishments which trainers are so apt to put in. 



" It happened one morning that a puma got out. I met 

 it walking calmly round the show (this was before the public 

 was admitted) and sniffing at all that came in its way, includ- 

 ing myself. It seemed nervous and uneasy, but when its 

 keeper called it, went straight back into its cage and began 

 purring at once. My opinion is that it would have allowed 

 me to stroke it had not the keeper called it at that moment. 



" Trusting that these few facts about the puma may be of 

 some use to you, Yours very truly, 



" ELLEN VELVIN." 



"PARIS, AugUSt 4, 1905. 



" To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 

 " WASHINGTON, D. C. 



" MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT : 



" I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter, 

 July 1 8th, forwarded to me here from New York. 



" My experience with pumas fully justifies my calling them 

 cowardly. Comparing them with the leopard and panther 

 of India and Africa I might say that out of 20 of the 

 former we might be able to train 8 or 10 at most, whereas with 



