The Puma 303 



changed ideas with on this point were of opinion that fear 

 alone would prevent these creatures from becoming dan- 

 gerous ; and it is customary to proceed upon this principle. 

 As soon, however, as any single rule is attempted to be 

 fitted to all cases, it becomes plain that it will not apply. 

 The personality of a cat is not to be compared with that of 

 a man ; nevertheless, if one is reared without taking this 

 into account, it will be ruined. Such beings differ so 

 greatly in disposition and temper, in capacity, and the 

 power and willingness to learn, that to force them all alike 

 into a mould, causes mental and moral deformity with the 

 same certainty that a similar proceeding would cause dis- 

 tortion of their bodies if the means used were material 

 restraints to physical development. The system of ter- 

 rorism is based upon the false assumption that fear is the 

 only feeling which will affect the Felidce deeply and per- 

 manently, and that this can only be excited in one way ; 

 namely, by severity. 



The intercourse of an average keeper with the animals 

 he has in charge is in most instances of the most limited 

 description. His observations, if he makes any, are more 

 likely to relate to their behavior as either submission or 

 otherwise, than to their general conduct towards himself, 

 and usually, all he has to communicate possesses little 

 interest except to the visiting public, who are easily satis- 

 fied, and ready to believe anything. A trainer or tamer, 

 although often an interesting person in virtue of his expe- 

 riences, is not always an instructive one. As a rule, all 

 that he knows is confined to what has presented itself in 

 the course of a few simple instructions. Experiments 



