fi THE PENNSYLVANIA LION OR PANTHER. 



\, itli ever)- uther living thing from the paroquet to the 

 heath-C'iick. from the northern hare to the pine marten, 

 from the passenger pigeon to the wild turkey, without 

 trymg to >tudy it, or give it a chance. Economically 

 the [i.ir.ther was of great value for the hide, meat, and 

 oil, and as the finest game animal wdiich Pennsylvania 

 produced. As former Governor Glynn, of New York, 

 said in a message to the Le;;islature, "Game should l)e 

 cdiis.rr.vL-d to furnish a cheap food supply." In the fol- 

 io wiir^ paj^es will be found the bullv of the information 

 v/li!i:li the writer has been able to collect on the sub- 

 ject of the panther in Pennsylvania. It has been pre- 

 pared from the point of view of the old hunters, whom 

 the writer has interviewed. While there are some 

 statem-iUs which are lialjle to be declared scientifically 

 incorci.-L-t, they are jirintcd for what they are worth, 

 as the authorities were as relialjle as unscientific ob- 

 servers can Ije. Tlie writer has consulted practically 

 every liook which contains a mention of the panther 

 in the Keystone State, and also manyifjther works on 

 the cougar of the United States and Central and South 

 America. lie does not seek to "split hairs" and make 

 the Petmsylvania Lion a separate variety, greater or 

 f^r.uider than its relatives in other parts. I'lie state- 

 ment is herein made that Pennsylvania panthers were 

 the largest known in the East, anrl this tlie writer be- 

 lieve- 'J J be correct. 'I'he romantic part of the panther's 

 sojourn among us has been dilated upon whenever 

 possible. This animal, above all othei-s, added most to 

 tlie ''.gciidarv lore of tlie State, liut the chief effort 



