106 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



menagerie, as \<^eU. as others that have been in the 

 possession of Mr. Cross, have been cited as instances of 

 this, and as proofs that BufFon's assertion of the tiger's 

 untameable ferocity is rather an exaggeration. This 

 docihty has been evinced by these animals showing an 

 obvious attachment to their keeper ; and in one instance 

 to a dog, which the tiger fostered and protected. The 

 females have been known to breed in confinement ; and 

 even a hybrid race has been produced between the 

 African lion and the Indian tiger. 



The Puma, or American Lion. 



Fells concolor, Linncetis. Le Congouar, Bnffon. Gouazouara, 

 Azara. Mitzli, Mexicans. Puma, Peruvians. 



This animal, the largest of the carnivorous quadru- 

 peds of the New World, has received the name of the 

 American lion, more on account of its corresponding 

 uniformity of colour, than from any close resemblance 

 of structure, since it is entirely destitute both of a mane 

 and a tuft on tli^e tail : its head also is small, and it 

 thus assumes all the form and contour of the generality 

 of the species : it is longer in the body, and lower on 

 the legs, than the lion ; and measures, from the nose to 

 the root of the tail, .about five feet. 



Our information on the native habits of the puma is 

 chiefly derived from the valuable notices of the Spanish 

 naturalist, Azara, who describes it under the name of 

 Guazouara. He mentions it as less ferocious and for- 

 midable than the jaguar; and he considers it rather a 

 timid animal, since, so far from its being known to at- 

 tack either men, or even dogs, it avoids both. Its chief 

 prey consists of the smaller quadrupeds, as sheep or 

 calves ; but against these it has a most ferocious nature : 

 it will destroy several, but will only carry off the body 

 of one. Like several other carnivorous animals, the 

 puma will conceal the overplus of its food for a second 

 repast j a peculiarity of economy which does not appear 

 to belong to the jaguar, the next in rank among the ra- 



