THE MOUNTAIN LION 191 
the colt; but each time the mother was between 
them. Then, watching his chance, he boldly 
leaped at the mare, endeavouring to throw a 
forepaw round her neck and, at the same in- 
stant, to seize and tear the throat with his savage 
teeth. He nearly succeeded. 
With the lion clinging and tearing at her head, 
the audacious mare reared almost straight on 
her hind legs and threw herself backward. 
This either threw the lion off or he let go. She 
had her nose badly clawed and got a bite in the 
neck; but she was first to recover, and a kick 
landed upon the lion’s hip. Crippled, he strug- 
gled and hurried tumbling away into the woods, 
while the bleeding mare paused to breathe be- 
side the untouched colt. 
The mountain lion is called a puma, cata- 
mount, panther, painter, or cougar, and was 
originally found all over North America. Of 
course he shows variations due to local climate 
and food. 
The lion is stealthy, exceedingly cunning, 
and curious in the extreme; but I am not ready, 
as many are, to call him cowardly. He does 
not have that spectacular rash bravery which 
dashes into the face of almost certain death; 
but he is courageous enough when necessity 
requires him to procure food or to defend him- 
self and his kind. He simply adapts himself 
