212 FAMILY FELID^J ; PUMA, JAGUAR. 



it is familiar, gentle, and playful ; and becomes greatly attached 

 to those who feed or notice it. When carried out to the field, it 

 is blinded ; and the hood is taken off when a Deer or Antelope 

 separates itself from the herd. The Cheetah then crouches until 

 it approaches its prey, and then bounds on it by a few vigorous 

 springs. When once it has tasted the blood of its victim, its 

 original nature breaks out, and it can with difficulty be drawn 

 away by its keeper. 



189. These animals are represented in America by the Puma, 

 Jaguar, and other species. The Puma has been commonly 

 termed the American lion, on account of its uniformity of colour, 

 which is a silvery-fawn ; in its young state it is marked with 

 blackish-brown streaks, but these disappear with the advance 

 of age. Though the largest of the American Felines, it by no 

 means equals the Lion in size and strength. It is extensively 

 diffused through North and South America ; but it is more scarce 

 than formerly, and its range is more contracted ; and as civilisa- 

 tion advances, it will be still further reduced. The Puma is 

 very destructive to the native animals and cattle in its vicinity, 



FIG. 103. JAGUAR. 



but it seldom attacks man. The Jaguar may be regarded as the 

 Panther of America ; but it is even more powerful, and almost 

 rivals the Tiger of the Indian jungles. It swims and climbs 



