400 



CARNIVORES. 



sea-level, and in the Chilian Cordillera at an elevation of not less than ten thousand 

 feet. In the Peruvian highlands the puma is also found in the highest forests, and 

 even occasionally ascends to the limits of perpetual snow, while in the dense 

 mountain-forests of Central America it is commonly found as liigh up as eight 

 or nine thousand feet. 



As a rule, throughout the widely different i-egions included in its range, the 

 puma selects for its lair localities affording a certain amount of concealment and 

 protection, usually preferring thickets and copses to dense forests. In Mexico it 

 has been observed that these animals ai-e always met with in the most solitary 

 spots, especially such as have a cover of thick bushes, or where there are rocks with 

 caves. In the pampas of Argentina the puma probabl}^ has to make the best of 

 the cover afforded by the tussocks of tall grass, or by the banks of the river-coui-ses. 



In respect of the daring, or otherwise, of the puma, there is a considerable 

 amount of discrepancy' in the accounts of different writers. It is, however, probable 

 that this divei-sity of view is mainly owing to the general refusal of the creature to 

 attack human beings having been regarded as indicative of its general character, 

 althougli diversity of habit in the southern and northern portion of its range is 

 probably also in some degree a factor in the case. Writing of the animal's habits 

 in South America, Mr. Hudson observes that, although the puma is iindoubtedly 

 possessed of marvellous courage and daring, yet the account given long ago by the 

 naturalist A^ara, that it will never attack or threaten to hurt either man or 

 child, even when found asleep, is not only true, but actually undei-stated. As 

 a matter of fact, not only will the puma refrain from attacking man, but 

 it will not even defend itself against him. It is from this circumstance that, in 

 South America at any rate, the puma has earned its reputation for arrant cowardice. 

 That it is in other respects a bold animal in South America Mr. Huilson unhesitat- 

 inglj'' asserts, and he backs this opinion by stating that the puma in\ariably prefers 

 large to small game, in desert regions killing peccaries, tapii-s, deer, huanacos, rhea.s, 

 etc. The number of huanacos killed by pumas in Argentina is attested by the 

 number of their skeletons found on the pampas witli dislocated necks, while, except 

 in recrions where prev is scarce, the number of slaujrhtered deer, with oulv the 

 flesh of the breast eaten, shows the puma's fastidious habits. Those, obser\-es 

 Mr. Hudson, who have ever hunted the huanaco on the sterile plains and 

 mountains know how wary and keen-scented it is, and consequently what powei-s 

 of endurance and skill its pursuit must entail on the part of the pui-suer. 



In the parts of South America where cattle and horses are largely bred the 

 puma is a terrible scourge. Indeed, so partial is it to horse-flesh, that in some parts 

 of Patagonia it is almost impossible to breed horses owing to the destniction 

 of their colt.s. An instance is related of a jjuma springing on a colt among a drove 

 in charge, of a driver, and killing it so suddenly by dislocation of the neck that 

 tlie unfortunate animal was actually dead before it fell to the ground. It further 

 appears that in districts where pumas abound the semi-wild hoi-ses of South 

 America can scarcelv maintain their existence, owing to the slautrhter of their colts : 

 and this leads Mr, Hudson to suggest that the indigenous hoi-ses, which inhabited 

 South America tluring the Pleistocene epoch, may have been totally exterminated 

 by pumas. The puma does not, however, confine its ravages on horses to the 



