!-.., CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



At length. " Vl '''' : '""'' ii'tendinu; to surprise, the lion, ho crawled softly ic> (lie cage, :m<l 



showed onlv liis face between iho bars. In an instant tlio lion lenpoil against them, patted liiin \viili 

 liis paws, lieked liis face, and trembled with pleasure. The female now ran to him, but the lion drove 

 her back, seemed angry that she should snatch any favours from Felix, when he, as a quarrel was about. 

 to take place, entered the cage to pacify them. He caressed them by turns, and was afterwards often 

 seen between them. So great was his command over these animals, that whenever he wished them to 

 separate, and retire to their cages, he hud only to give. the order. When he wished them to lie down, 

 and show strangers their paws or throats, a sign was sufficient, while the licking of his hand they 

 considered a reeompeiiM'. They were of the Asiatic breed, and, at this time, were five years and a 

 half old. 



London can furnish anything for money, and, if any lady or gentleman wishes to possess a lion or 

 a tiger, they may be had at five minutes' notice, of dealers in Felidaf, who dwell in RatclifFe Highway 

 and its neighbourhood. One of these wild-beast merchants was awakened by his wife, one night, who 

 told him of a noise in the back yard, where on the previous evening he had placed two lions. His 

 room was on the ground-floor, and, putting his head out of window, there they actually were, both 

 loose, and with their paws on the window-sill, looking grimly in upon him. With the determined air, 

 indispensable in his business, and armed with a good whip, he very speedily consigned them again to 

 their cage. On another occasion, he heard a noise in his back premises, and soon found out the cause, to 

 his horror : an elephant, with his pick-lock trunk, had actually let out from their cages a hyaena and a 

 nylghau, and was busy undoing the fastenings of a den full of lions ! But even then he soon restored 

 order. 



THE PUMA, OB AMERICAN LION.* 



THIS animal, sometimes called the Couguar, has a very extensive range over both North and South 

 America. The total length of the body of the adult is from four feet to four feet and a half, that of 

 the tail from two feet to two feet and a half. The females are somewhat less. The fur is thick and 

 close, above of a reddish-brown, approaching nearly to the colour of a fox on the back. It lightens on 

 the outsides of the limbs and on the flanks, and on the belly becomes of a pale reddish-white. The 

 muzzle, chin, throat, and insides of the legs, are grayish-white, and on the breast the colour becomes 

 more marked, and is almost pure white. The part from which the whiskers spring, and the lips and 

 backs of the ears, are black ; the whiskers themselves white. On the face and flanks of the young 

 animal there are some indications of stripes or brindling ; but when the puma reaches maturity these 

 are lost, and the colour becomes entirely uniform, except where it shades into a paler tint. 



Though very active in climbing, this animal seems more to frequent the grassy plains of the 

 southern part of America and the marshy meadow lands bordering the rivers, than the forest, and is 

 found in a country so open, as to be frequently taken by the lasso, when attacking the herds. 



In the northern districts it inhabits the swamps and prairies, living chiefly on different species of 

 deer, on which it is said sometimes to drop down from a tree, which it had ascended to watch their path ; 

 or it makes inroads on the bogs of the squatter, who has gone to the unopened country. Other kinds 

 of food, however, are sought after, and taken without much discrimination. 



Unlike most of the other animals of the tribe, it is not satisfied with the seizui'e of a single prey ; 

 but, when meeting with a herd of animals, will kill as many as it can, sucking only a small portion of 

 the blood from each. It is thus extremely destructive among sheep, and has been known to kill fifty 

 m one night. Active means ate therefore constantly required for its destruction, and it is either hunted, 

 speared, or shot. 



Two hunters went out iu quest of game on the Katskils Mountains, in the province of New 

 York, eaeli armed with a gun, and accompanied by his dog. It was agreed between them that they 

 should go in contrary directions round the base of the hill, and that if either discharged his piece, the 

 other sliould cross the hill as expeditionary as possible, to join his companion in pursuit of the game 

 xliot at. 



Shortly after sepai-a'in'/, one heard the other fire, and, agreeably to their compact, hastened to his 

 OOmnda i-ehin;; for him for some time without etl'ect, he found his dog dead and dreadfully 



* Fells concolor. Linmvus. 



