70 WILD BEASTS OF THE WOELD 



though a much more widely-ranging animal than the Jaguar, it is 

 perhaps less attached to forests and water-side haunts than that animal. 



It preys on a great variety of creatures, attacking, like the Leopard, 

 anything it is quick enough to capture and powerful enough to kill, 

 and even adult Horses do not always escape it, though it is more 

 particularly destructive to colts, as well as to calves. It is a deadly 

 foe of the Rhea, or American "Ostrich," and of the Guanaco or wild 

 Llama, while that curious social burrowing rodent, the Vizcacha, is 

 keenly hunted by it. When attacking domestic animals, it gives the 

 preference to. Horses, at any rate when young, but in default of horse- 

 flesh, it can very well, put up with mutton. To. the unfortunate Sheep 

 it is a most deadly foe, for it is a bloodthirsty, creature, and, if it can 

 get access to a fold, will think nothing of killing half-a-hundred; sheep 

 in a night. , . In North America it is a merciless enemy, of the Deer, 

 and even its own relative, the Lynx, falls a victim to.it at times. It 

 is also reported to be on bad terms with the Jaguar, which is some- 

 times found in the same localities, and, what is much more . remark^ 

 able, to get the better of that animal , in the fights which naturally 

 ensue. It is true that the Jaguar is much stronger and heavier, . but 

 the Puma has the advantage in lightness and agility, arid by virtue: 

 of these qualities it is said also, to grievously annoy the huge Grizzly 

 Bear in the northern parts of its home. 



With all these awe-inspiring attributes, it is curious that the Puma 

 should be a kittenish and playful creature, always ready for a game, 

 and that it is hardly to be regarded as a serious foe to man. A regular 

 man-eater seems to be an unknown creature among Pumas, . nor are 

 they nearly so dangerous when brought to bay as Leopards . are, though 

 there are not wanting instances of men being injured by them with 

 or without provocation. They will also follow people in a. way which 

 is, to say the least of it, uncomfortable, though Mr. W. H. Hudson 

 regards this interest as merely friendly curiosity, and states that the 

 Gauchos consider the Puma as man's only friend among the. wild 

 animals. He even cites instances in which a Puma has not only 

 refrained from attacking human beings whom circumstances, had placed 



