II THE FATHER OF GAME 49 
for instances are numerous where the panther has 
carried off not only deer that had been left out 
over night, but has taken game from before the 
very eyes of the sportsman. “One day,” says 
Perry, “ when shooting rabbits, I tied together a 
number that I had killed, and hung them on the 
branch of an alder which overhung the path. 
Returning along the same path shortly after, I 
met a cougar trotting leisurely along with my 
rabbits in his mouth. Having a shell loaded with 
buckshot, he paid for his dishonesty with his life.” 
The puma was quick to avail itself of the intro- 
duction of domestic cattle, and began to prey upon 
the settlers’ pastures from the start. It has a par- 
ticular penchant for horseflesh, and ravages the 
herds of Indian ponies on the plains and pampas, 
attacking first the colts, but often killing full-grown 
horses and mares. This may explain several re- 
corded incidents of cougars leaping upon the horse 
of a traveller, but fleeing when they discovered the 
man in the saddle, even when, as usually happened, 
he had been dismounted by the plunging of the 
animal. The cougar probably failed to recognize 
the human being in that unaccustomed attitude, 
and was as much surprised as the man. 
Calves, sheep, and hogs are also preyed upon; 
and in the grazing districts of South America and 
our far West the cougars are yet so numerous, 
wherever a rough country offers them secure re- 
treats, as to make a serious drawback in some 
E 
