278 VERTEBRATA. 



in nearly all the wooded regions of New England. One is still sometimes seen in the northern 

 wilds of Maine and New Bampshire. The author of these pages recollects that, in his boyhood, 

 meeting a "painter" 1 was among the possible adventures of a sportsman in the mountainous western 

 border of Connecticut. At prcsenl this animal is rare in most parts of the Northern and Middle 

 State-. : it is frequently met with in the AJleghany range, from New York to Georgia. It is fond 

 of marshy land-, and is common in the swamps along the Southern rivers, and is especially 

 abundant in Texas and Florida. It is found in Oregon and California, but more sparingly. 

 Though it appears to be the only large animal of the cat family that lives and thrives in a tem- 

 perate climate, the cougar still seems to find its true home in the hot regions of our continent. 

 In Mexico, < lentral America, < lolombia, Guiana, and Brazil, it reaches its largest size, and its pre- 

 daceous qualities have their fullest development. 



'The cougar generally subsists on birds and small quadrupeds, such as young deer, raccoons, 

 skunk-, and the like: in South America the monkeys and peccaries frequently become its prey. 

 In the vicinity of man it often makes sad havoc among the sheep: one has been known to kill 

 fifty in a night, and gorge himself with their blood. It also kills great numbers of swine. Young 

 animals, lambs, pigs, calves, and colts, are its especial favorites. If a cougar finds an unfortunate 

 cow, or even a bullock, embarrassed in the oozy mud of a swamp, he will fall upon it and kill it. 

 If the animal is too large for a single meal, the greedy brute, having filled himself to repletion, 

 retire- to a short distance, and waits and watches till his hunger revives, when he returns and 

 finishes his gluttonous repast. 



This animal is nocturnal in its habits, and is said to utter a wailing cry, which travelers repre- 

 sent as peculiarly wild, startling, and hideous, when heard in the wilderness, during the still 

 watches of the night. It is conjectured, however, that the shrill bark of the fox, and the desolate 

 hootings of the owl, are often mistaken for the yell of the cougar. This animal prowls about in 

 search of it- prey with great perseverance, and slily approaching its intended victim, bounds upon 

 it with a sudden and terrible velocity. It is a peculiarly cowardly animal, and appeal's never to 

 k a man in open day, but sometimes at night it has sprung upon an unwary traveler either 

 lagging along the road or encamped in the woods. Like all others of the cat family, it is afraid 

 of fire, and the usual defense of woodmen is to keep up a blaze during the night. Even with this 

 caution, a party of foresters has often been startled by finding their horses attacked, and sometimes 

 v lacerated by the claws and teeth of these blood-thirsty creatures. Innumerable instances 

 of this kind have happened to emigrants and settlers in the Western States. 



The cougar climbs trees with great facility; it often lies in wait for its prey on the limb of a 

 tree, and when it comes within reach, descends upon it like a thunderbolt. In mountainous 

 countries, its lair is in the clefts of the rocks ; in marshy lands, it makes its rude bed of leaves, 

 ;-, and grasses, in the thick, matted coverts of the jungle, the chapparal, or the cane-brake. 

 Tie female cougar is most affectionate and devoted to her young. She only leaves them to pro- 

 cure n< cessary food, and permits them to subsist upon her till she is often reduced to a skeleton. 

 When about half grown, they cease to be nursed, and accompany their parents — wdio usually go 

 together — in their hunt-. 



It that there is an animal in South America which is called the Black Cougar, FeU* 



discolor] but wnether a distinct species or only a variety of the cougar, is not determined. 



The Ocelot, or Leopard < 'at, Felis pardalis, is found in Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico, and as 

 far south as Paraguay. The length of the body is three feet, the height one foot six inches. The 

 ground-color i- -ray, marked with fawn-col. .red patches and spots, edged with black; these are 

 irregularly but gracefully disposed in bands, sloping down the sides, and running in lines along 

 the head and neck. The under parts are white, spotted with black. The colors are exceedingly 

 rich, ami the whole effect indescribably beautiful. Of all the cat family, this is admitted to be 

 the handsomest. Its activity and grace of movement are equal to the splendor of its skin. It 

 lives in woods and thicket- bordering upon streams or lakes, keeping itself concealed during the 

 day, and sallying forth on its hunt by night. It climbs trees with agility, where it pursues its 

 game, especially birds and monkeys, with great address. It is said to practice a trick on the lat- 

 ter animal which shows a good appreciation of monkey character. It will stretch itself out on the ^ 



