THE PUMA. 



THIS animal is the largest and most power- 

 ful of the Cats which live in America. It 

 is native to both North and South America; and, 

 like all Cats, it is fond of living alone. Although 

 chiefly nocturnal in its habits, it also prowls 

 about during the day, and with silent steps moves 

 through the forest, intently on the wa,tch for 

 any luckless creature that may be in its vicin- 

 ity. 



This animal more nearly resembles the Pan- 

 ther than the Lion ; it has no mane, and no tuft 

 on the end of the tail, nor is the head of the same 

 shape or so massive as that of tlie African Lion ; 

 the head is very small in proportion to the body 

 and legs ; the latter being very large and muscu- 

 lar. Its average length is from five to six feet. 

 The Puma is of a fawn color, and when yOung is 

 marked with dark lines along the back ; these 

 fade as it grows older. 



In disposition they are ferocious when wild, 

 but they only attack man when driven to bay, at 

 which time it is very dangerous to approach 

 them ; they are, however, easily tamed, and be- 

 come quite attached to their keepers. Besides 

 the Peccary, Capybara, and Deer, they destroy 

 Sheep, Hogs, and Cattle. One of them has been 

 known to kill fifty Sheep in one night. 



This powerful animal is possessed of great 



22 



cunning, as the following instance will sliow. A 

 hunter, who had been in pursuit of a Puma for 

 the greater portion of a day, after proceeding 

 some time, observed that he came again and again 

 upon a man's track, mingled with that of the 

 Puma ; and he soon became conscious that the 

 crafty animal had made a circuit, and had got be- 

 hind, having thus become the pursuer in place of 

 remaining the pursued. 



Instead of going any farther, he quietly stepped 

 behind a tree, and with his gun presented and 

 ready, awaited the approach of his disagreeable 

 attendant. Soon he saw the Puma coming care- 

 fully along, sniffing his tracks at intervals, and 

 endeavoring to catch a glimpse of him in front. 

 Waiting a favorable moment, he fired from his 

 concealment, and fortunately killed the animal on 

 the spot. It proved to he a male of the largest 

 size. 



During severe winters the Puma is frequently 

 obliged to go for long periods without food, as 

 the Deer, which often becomes its prey, are capa- 

 ble of serious resistance — the Does being usu- 

 ally accompanied by the Bucks, whose sharp 

 horns, wielded with great dexterity, render them 

 no despicable antagonists. At such times it will 

 pay a visit to the sheep-fold, and make great 

 slaughter among its terrified and helpless in- 



