The Puma 277 



closely watched. Then, however, his acting was perfect. 

 He got as far off as possible in the long, gallery-like room, 

 fastened his glowing eyes upon the pretended victim, and 

 from first to last showed how complete are the teachings 

 of heredity, both in all that he did and avoided doing. 

 Nothing that could favor his approach was neglected, no 

 mistake was made. The furniture might be differently 

 arranged with design, lights and shadows changed, new 

 places of concealment, from which he could make his 

 mimic attack, constructed ; but the animal's tactics never 

 failed to alter in accordance with these arrangements, and 

 to be the best that circumstances admitted of. There is 

 no doubt that he admired himself greatly, and, so far as it 

 was possible to judge, commendation was very pleasing. 

 He always expected to be complimented and caressed 

 after darting from an ambush which had been reached with 

 much precaution, and he reared up and rubbed his head 

 against his friend, asking for praise as plainly as possible. 

 This account is not intended to convey any principles 

 of zoopsychology, but to record special facts relating to an 

 animal whose family the author looks upon as exceptional 

 in respect to their savagery, and who was himself, so far 

 as the closest observation will warrant one in making a 

 sweeping statement about a wild beast, not recognizably 

 different in his characteristics from other members of the 

 race he belonged to, or average individuals of allied species. 

 " Magnum hereditatis mysterium " is a truth relating to 

 the process of heredity alone ; it has nothing to do with 

 the fact that like produces like, or that traits, from the 

 nvost generalised to those which are special; ^re undpubt- 



