THE PUMA. 



149 



which the tail occupies rather more than two feet. The tip of the tail is black, but is destitute 

 of the black tuft of long hair which is so characteristic of the true lion. Its limbs are extremely- 

 thick and muscular, as needs be for an animal whose life is spent almost entirely in climbing 

 trees, and whose subsistence is gained only by the exercise of mingled activity and force. 



The color of the Puma is an uniform light tawny tint, deeper in some individuals than in 

 others, and fading into a beautiful grayish-white on the under parts. It is remarkable that 

 the young Puma displays a gradual change in its fur, nearly in the same way as has been 

 narrated of the Hon cub. While the Puma cubs are yet in their first infancy, their coat is 

 marked with several rows of dark streaks extending along the back and sides, and also bears 

 upon the neck, sides, and shoulders many dark spots, resembling those of the ordinary 

 leopard. But, as the animal increases in size, the spots fade away, and, when it has attained 

 its perfect development, are altogether lost in the uniform tawny hue of the fur. 



PUMA.— Leopardus concotor. 



Until it has learned from painful experience a wholesome fear of man, the Puma is apt to 

 be a dangerous neighbor. It is known to track human beings through long distances, awaiting 

 an opportunity of springing unobservedly upon a heedless passer-by. A well-known traveller 

 in American forest lands told me candidly, that he always ran away from " Grizzlys," i.e. 

 grizzly bears, but that " Painters were of no account." He said that as long as a traveller 

 could keep a Puma in sight, he need fear no danger from the animal, for that it would not leap 

 upon him as long as its movements were watched. 



Even in those rare instances where the Puma, urged by fierce hunger, issued boldly from 

 the dark leafage of the woods, and ventured to track the very pathway that was trodden 

 by the travellers, there was yet no real danger. The Puma would creep rapidly towards the 

 party, and would, in a short time, approach sufficiently near to make its fatal spring. But if 

 ono of the travellers faced sharply on the crawling animal, and looked it full in the face, 

 the beast was discomfited at once, and slowly retreated, moving its head from side to side, as 

 if trying to shake off the influence of that calm steady gaze to which it had never been 



