THE PUMA. 



393 



it can carry off or devour. Yet, though far larger than the 

 jaguar, it is inferior to it in courage, and, when boldly op- 

 posed by man, will always take to flight ; though, like the 

 jaguar, it will track a human being through the forest, in the 

 hope of springing on him when unobserved. Yet, boldly 

 faced, it plays the coward, and will creep off, unable to stand 



man's steady gaze. Like a wild cat, it climbs a tree with 

 ease ; and, taking post on a branch, crouches down, stretched 

 out at full length along it, its colour harmonizing with the 

 bark, so that it cannot be seen by its unwary prey moving- 

 near it. As the deer or vicuna passes below, it launches 

 itself on the doomed creature, and, drawing back its neck 

 wiih its powerful claws, breaks the vertebrae, and instantly 



