THE MOUNTAIN LION 193 



two out-reaching tree limbs not more than eight 

 feet above me. His hind feet were upon one 

 limb, his forefeet upon a lower limb, and he 

 was looking down, watching me curiously. He 

 remained in this position for several minutes, 

 then turned quietly, descended the tree on the 

 opposite side, and walked away into the woods. 



It is probable that lions mate for life. Some- 

 times they live year after year in the same den 

 and prowl over the same local territory. This 

 territory, I think, is rarely more than a few 

 miles across; though where food is scarce or a 

 good den not desirably located, they may cover 

 a larger territory. 



Lions commonly live in a den of their own 

 making. This is sometimes dug in loose sand 

 or soil where its entrance is concealed among 

 bushes. Sometimes it is beneath a fallen log 

 or a tree root, and in other places a semi-den, 

 beneath rocks, is enlarged. In this den the 

 young are born, and the old ones may use it a 

 part of each year, and for year after year. 



Though occasionally a mother lion may raise 

 as many as five kittens, rarely does she succeed 

 in raising more than two; and I think only two 

 are commonly brought forth at a birth. These 

 kittens probably remain with the mother for 

 nearly a year, and in exceptional cases even 

 longer. As I have seen either kittens or their 



