82 WILD ANIMALS. 



He also describes tlie following incident wliich occurred in 

 Minnesota : — " A cougar leaped from a tree upon tlie driver of a 

 waggon who was carrying home some fresh meat from town. 

 "When the animal made the leap it knocked the man back in the 

 cart, but before it could do any more harm than claw him 

 severely, he tumbled out on the road at the tail-board, while the 

 horses bounded away at full speed, carrying the assailant with 

 them. They say the man was so frightened that he stayed in the 

 road all night, with- his nose stuck in the dust; and on being 

 rallied about his courage the next day, he nonchalantly replied 

 that he was not going to take any chances, and he would rather 

 lie in the dust than in the stomach of a cougar." 



Their flesh is very good eating, being white and tender, like 

 veal, and in consequence much appreciated by the hunters and 

 Indians, who are unanimous in their praise of its excellence, 

 although there is a difference of opinion with regard to the gastric 

 qualities of the jaguar. 



" A proof that the animalj in its wild state, can sometimes be 

 playful with mattj may be deduced from an incident that occurred 

 in "Washington territoi'y; A farmer on his way to Olympia, the 

 capital of the territory, was passing one evening over the road that 

 leads through the dense forests which stretch Southward for miles 

 from the town^ These are almost of Plutonian darkness after the 

 sun sets, owing to their density and towering altitude, so that one 

 cannot see ten paces ahead. While walking leisurely along, he 

 was surprised to feel something touch his legj and on looking down 

 was almost dazed to see a huge cougar rubbing its head against 

 him and purring pleasantly. Seeing that it was in evident good 

 humour, whilst he was defenceless in case of attack, he moved 

 onward in a sort of half- stupefied condition, for his heart was 

 beating violently, and he dared not utter a sound through fear 

 of arousing its anger. The animal accompanied him for a mile or 

 more and gambolled around him in the most playful manner, now 

 running ahead for several yards, then bounding back and rubbing 

 its head and side against him strongly, as a pet house-cat would. 

 Knowing the treacherous nature of the brute, he expected every 

 moment to be assailed, and the blood was often sent coursing 



