THE JAGUAR AND THE PUMA. 83 



violently and spasmodically through his body, and cold chills crept 

 over him whenever he saw it plunging into the woods, then come 

 leaping towards him at its best pace, and colliding with his legs so 

 vigorously that he feared sometimes that he would be knocked 

 down ; and if such an accident occurred, he was afraid that its 

 natural instinct would prevail, and that he would be pounced upon. 

 It began to get wearied after awhile of the gambolling, and kept 

 closer to him ; its taU also began to swing suspiciously from side 

 to side, and its loud purring was occasionally transformed into a 

 blood-curdling scream. Just as he was about giving up all hopes 

 of getting rid of it quietly, he heard the rumble of approaching 

 wheels, and taking courage from this indication of help, he gave a 

 loud and prolonged yell, in which there was more of fear than 

 defiance. The cougar was startled so much by this fierce and 

 unexpected cry that it fled into the woods terror-stricken, and 

 disappeared like magic in the shrubbery. When the driver of the 

 waggon approached the terrified man, he found him so weak from 

 excitement that he could hardly speak j but he recovered himself 

 after a little while and told his tale. He was driven to town, and 

 after taking a long pull at something stronger than tea, was 

 himself again ; but he will not probably to his dying day forget 

 his agonizing half -hour with a cougar." 



The puma is easily tamed, having many of the habits of, and some- 

 what similar disposition to, the domestic cat. Kean, the celebrated 

 tragedian, owned a tame puma, which followed him about his garden 

 and house, and was frequently brought into the drawing-room 

 to be shown his guests. Many other people have kept pumas in 

 their houses^ and nearly all agree in reporting them as tame and 

 harmless animalSj even to dogs and monkeys^ their chief prey when 

 in a wild state. Mr. "Wilson, of Edinburgh, describing a puma 

 whose habits he attentively studied, gives many amusing par- 

 ticulars about them. " It rejoices greatly in the society of those 

 to whose company it is accustomed, lies down upon its back 

 between their feet, and plays with the skirts of their garments, 

 entirely after the manner of a kitten. It shows a great predilection 

 for water, and frequently jumps into and out of a large tub, rolling 

 itself about, and seemingly greatly pleased with the refreshment." 



G 2 



