MAMMALS 313 



is a notable annual loss of life among the natives of India from 

 the attacks of "man-eating" tigers. 



The jaguar, Fdis onca, which occurs as far north as the 

 southern part of the United States, is the largest and most 

 beautiful of the American members of this family. The puma, 

 or mountain lion, or cougar, Fells concolor, occurs throughout 

 the western mountains and foothills. It preys upon deer, 

 mountain sheep and other wild animals, and sometimes upon 

 domestic animals. Like all members of the family it will 

 avoid man if possible, but in defense of self or of young and 

 sometimes when driven by hunger, the pumas will attack man 

 savagely. Large specimens measure five feet in length from 

 nose to base of tail. 



The Canada lynx, Lynx canadensls, and the bay lynx, w r hich 

 is also known as the red lynx, or wild cat, or bob cat, Lynx rufus, 

 still occurs in considerable numbers in many parts of the coun- 

 try, often raiding the poultry yards. The ocelots, Fells parda- 

 lis, beautifully marked by spots and broken bands running 

 lengthwise of the body, occur only as far north as Texas. 



The Canida, or dog family, includes the wolves, coyotes, 

 foxes, and the domestic dogs. The gray or timber wolf, Cams 

 occidentalis, is the largest and most formidable of them. These 

 wolves range through the north and west where they often 

 hunt in packs and are able to overpower animals much larger 

 than themselves. They were formerly very troublesome on 

 stock ranches, killing many young calves and colts. The coyote, 

 or prairie wolf, Canis latrans, is only about two-thirds as large 

 as the gray wolf. It feeds on small animals and birds, and 

 often visits the ranchers' poultry yards. But as coyotes often 

 kill prairie-dogs and ground-squirrels they make recompense in 

 some measure for the damage that they do. They are usually 

 crafty enough to avoid all traps and to keep out of range of guns. 

 Wolves and coyotes are sometimes destroyed by placing a two 

 to four grain capsule filled with strychnine in small pieces of 

 beef or suet. The meat should not be touched by the hands, 

 and should be dropped from horseback along trails used by 

 the wolves. 



There are many species of foxes in America, the red fox, 



