4 o2 CARNIVORES. 



instance is on record where one of these animals, when taken out of its cage and led 

 by a chain, walked peaceably in front of a crowd of spectators, until, on catching 

 sight of a dog, it suddenly broke away from control, and dashed violently among 

 the people, who scattered in all directions. 



One of the few instances known to Mr. Hudson, where a puma in South 

 America has defended itself against a human being, was related to him by a Guacho. 

 This individual, after an unsuccessful encounter with a jaguar, was riding on the 

 pampas when " a puma started up from the long grass in his path, but made no 

 attempt to run away ; it merely sat up, he said, and looked at him in a provokingly 

 fearless manner. To slay this animal with his knife, and so revenge himself for 

 the defeat he had just suffered, was his first thought. He alighted and secured his 

 horse by tying its fore-feet together, then, drawing his long heavy knife, rushed at 

 the puma. Still it did not stir. Raising his weapon he struck with a force which 

 would have split the animal's skull open if the blow had fallen where it was 

 intended to fall, but with a quick movement the puma avoided it, and at the same 

 time lifted a foot and with lightning rapidity dealt the aggressor a blow on the 

 face, its unsheathed claws literally dragging down the flesh from his cheek, leaving 

 the bone bare. After inflicting this terrible punishment, and eyeing its fallen foe 

 for a few seconds, it trotted quietly away." Eventually the wounded man recovered 

 from his injuries. 



As a culmination to its generally harmless character where man is concerned, 

 there are stories current to the effect that the puma in South America will actually 

 guard human beings when threatened with attack by other animals. Such an 

 instance is related by Mr. Hudson, where a puma having placed itself by the side 

 of a belated traveller on the pampas, attacked and drove off a jaguar, and this 

 more than once. The narrator believes this anecdote to be strictly true, and 

 remarks that the fact of a puma never making an unprovoked attack on man, and 

 but rarely resisting him when attacked, is not really less wonderful than that it 

 should follow him and come near him when alone in the wilderness, and even 

 occasionally defend him from the jaguar, the common enemy of both. 



Turning to North America, we find very similar accounts to those related 

 above as to the serious injuries inflicted by pumas in the less settled districts on 

 live stock. Thus in Mexico they are reported to kill large numbers of colts and 

 calves, and on this account are poisoned by the herdsmen with strychnine. 

 In California it is stated to be impossible to breed horses in one district, on account 

 of the ravages of these pests ; and the destruction inflicted by them on calves and 

 pigs is also considerable. 



With regard to the behaviour of the puma towards man, and its courage (or 

 the reverse) in North America, the accounts to hand are not so circumstantial and 

 definite as might be desired. All authorities are, however, agreed that it does not 

 ordinarily attack human beings, and that when surprised it generally endeavours 

 to make good its escape. Nevertheless, there are several instances on record where 

 pumas have made such attacks, even in open daylight ; among these we select two 

 quoted by Mr. Perry. One case occurred in the spring 1886, when some children 

 from Olympia, Washington, were returning home from school. The eldest, a boy 

 of twelve, noticed something that he thought was a large yellow dog, trotting on 



