MAMMALIA—COUGAR. ~ 177 
destroy the whole, merely that he may enjoy the luxury o. sucking their 
blood. Ashe possesses much timidity and little swiftness, and in South 
America frequents the open plains, he generally falls a victim when the 
hunter pursues him with the unerring lasso. 
In seizing its prey, the puma crawls softly on his belly through the shrubs 
and bushes, conceals itself in ditches, or assumes a fawning appearance. 
As soon, however, as it can reach its victim, it leaps on its back by one 
bound, and soon rends it to pieces. Molina tells us, that, in Chili, where 
the husbandmen tether their horses in the fields by pairs, the puma kills 
and drags one away, and compels the other to follow by occasionally strik- 
ing it with his paw. All animals are not thus easily vanquished. Asses 
defend themselves with their heels, and are often victorious ; and cows form 
themselves into a circle round their calves, turn their horns towards the 
assailant, and not unfrequently destroy him. Even a woman ora child can 
put him to flight. When hunted with dogs, however, and cut off from his 
retreat to a rock or a tree, he places himself under the trunk of a large tree, 
and fights furiously. 
The puma is easily tamed, and in captivity becomes tractable, and even 
attached.. It loves to be noticed and caressed, expresses iis pleasure by 
purring, will follow its owner about like a dog, and has been known to suffer 
children to ride upen its back. 
The following anecdotes are from Godman : — 
“Two hunters, accompanied by two dogs, went out in quest of game 
near the Catskill mountains. At the foot of a large hill, they agreed to go 
round it in opposite directions, and when either discharged his rifle, the 
other was to hasten towards him to aid in securing the game. Soon after 
parting, the report ofa rifle was heard by one of them, who, hastening 
towards the spot, after some search, found nothing but the dog, dreadfully 
lacerated and dead. He now became much alarmed for the fate of his 
companion, and while anxiously looking around, was horror-struck by the 
harsh growl of a cougar, which he perceived on a large limb of a tree, 
crouching upon the body of his friend, and apparently meditating an attack 
on himself. Instantly he levelled his rifle at the beast, and was so fortu- 
nate as to wound it mortally, when it fell to the ground along with the 
body of his slaughtered companion. His dog then rushed upon the wounded 
cougar, which with one blow of its paw laid the poor animal dead by its 
side. The surviving hunter now left the spot, and quickly returned with 
several other persons, when they found the lifeless cougar extended near 
the dead bodies of the hunter and the faithful dogs.” 
“‘ About the close of the late war, a merchant of Piqua, named Herse, 
received a considerable sum of money in small bills, which made it appear 
of still greater magnitude to several suspicious looking persons who were 
resent when it was received. Mr Herse being unarmed, was apprehen- 
- we that an attempt would be made to rob him at the camping ground, and 
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