ORDER CARNASSIER. 439 



approaching the wounded animal, the Man prudently re- 

 tired, and with all haste brought several persons to the 

 spot, where the unfortunate hunter, the Couguar, and both 

 the Dogs, were all lying dead together *. 



D'Azara asserts, that the Jaguar cannot climb trees, but 

 that the Puma can. The last anecdote sufficiently evinces 

 that the latter can mount a tree ; but it seems probable, 

 that it is accomplished rather by a vigorous bound in the 

 first instance, than by absolute climbing. 



Major Smith witnessed an extraordinary instance of the 

 abstracted ferocity of this animal, when engaged with its 

 food. A Puma, which had been taken and was confined, 

 was ordered to be shot, which was done immediately after 

 the animal had received its food : the first ball went through 

 his body, and the only notice he took of it was by a shrill 

 growl, doubling his efforts to devour his food, which he ac- 

 tually continued to swallow with quantities of his own 

 blood till he fell. 



Notwithstanding such instances of the violence of dispo- 

 sition of this animal, it is very easy to be tamed. The same 

 gentleman saw another individual that was led about with 

 a chain, carried in a waggon, lying under the seat upon 

 which his keeper sat, and fed by flinging a piece of meat 

 into a tree, when his chain was coiled round his neck, and 

 he was desired to fetch it down ; an act which he performed 

 in two or three bounds, with surprising ease and docility. 



A tame Puma, which died recently, was some time in the 

 possession of Mr. Kean, the actor. It was quite docile and 

 gentle. After the death of this animal, it was discovered 

 that a musket-ball, in all probability, had injured its skull, 

 which was not known in its lifetime. 



* This incident was related to Major Smith by Mr. Skudder, the 

 proprietor of the Museum at New York, where the animal was pre- 

 served after death as a memorial of the story. 



