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if its courage corresponded with its size it would be a dangerous foe 

 to the inhabitants. It is, however, exceedingly cowardly and I never 

 knew of any well authenticated instance of its attacking man, al- 

 though some stories were related of its carrying away young children, 

 which may have been true. The puma is capable of performing such 

 feats, for it possesses great strength. Capt. Dummett informed me 

 that he had shot one near his plantation in the autumn of 1871, which 

 had killed a full grown buck and was devouring it. 



Like many of this family the puma is nocturnal in its habits and 

 remains concealed in the dense swamps and hummocks during the 

 day, commonly reclining on the limb of a tree. It is said to drop 

 upon its prey from s.uch an elevation, and many old hunters warned 

 me against passing through the thick woods in the early morning or 

 late in the evening as they said that the tigers were usually on the 

 alert at such times and might be tempted to spring upon one if he 

 were alone. It is very inquisitive when its dominions are invaded 

 during the day, and will often follow the intruder for some distance, 

 uttering a low, moaning cry, but is always careful to keep concealed. 



Besides this peculiar low note it emits a variety of harsh sounds, 

 some of which are only given during the night, and are quite terri- 

 fying when first heard, especially one in particular which resembles 

 the scream of a woman in extreme agony. This cry is more fre- 

 quently given in March, when the males are in pursuit of the females. 

 I think the young are dropped in the autumn. Skins of this animal 

 which I have seen from Florida are of a decidedly rufous color without 

 spots or bars. It may be well to remark that I have frequently heard, 

 from hunters, of tigers which were not only of a larger size than the 

 common species, but which were said to be spotted. I never saw a 

 specimen, but it is not impossible that the closely allied species Felis 

 onca may be found here, although I hardly think it probable. 



[To be continued.] 



