lOS ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



venge, — the survivor hastened to procure assistance from 

 the nearest spot. Several persons accompanied him on 

 his return. They then found the unfortunate hunter, 

 the puma^ and both of the dogs, all lying dead together.* 



The ferocity of the puma in devouring its food has 

 been illustrated by major Smith, who cites the following 

 extraordinary instance, which he himself witnessed: — A 

 puma, which had been taken and confined, was ordered 

 to be shot ; and the time fixed upon was immediately 

 after the animal had received its food. The first ball 

 went through its body : the -only notice he took of it 

 was by a shrill growl, at the jsame time doubling his ef- 

 forts to .devour his food, w^hidi he actually continued to 

 swallow, with quantities of his own blood, until he fell. 



When taken captive at an early age and domesticated, 

 the puma, howeV^r, seems capable of all the docihty and 

 playfulness of a domestic cat. A tame one, mentioned 

 by Azara, was as gentle as any dog. It was fond of 

 play ; and if an orange was presented to it, would strike 

 it with its paw, push it away, and seize it again, as a 

 cat would play with a mouse. It had all the manners 

 of a cat when surprising a bird, not excepting the agi- 

 tation of the tail ; and when caressed, it purred in the 

 same manner. Major Smith also mentions having seen 

 a puma which was particularly tame. It was merely 

 secured by a chain, and lived in a waggon, under the 

 seat of its keeper. When about to be fed, a piece of 

 meat was flung into a tree, and his chain being coiled, 

 the animal was desired to fetch his food : this task he 

 immediately performed with surprising ease and do- 

 cility, by two or three bounds. The same accurate 

 observer remarks, in drawing a comparison between the 

 physical powers of the jaguar and the puma of the^New 

 World, that the latter is of the most cruel and sanguin- 

 ary disposition in a state of nature, though easy to be 

 tamed ; yet it is inferior to the jaguar in bodily powers, 

 and still more in energy and courage. 



* Griff. Cuv. ii. 438. 



