THE PUMA. 29 



THE PUMA, 



IN THE ROYAL MENAGERY, TOWER OF LONDON. 



This animal has, by the natives of Peru and Chili, been denominated the Lion of South America; 

 and in its colour and general characteristics it bears a strong resemblance to that animal, with this 

 exception, that the male Puma is wholly destitute of mane. The length of the body of the Puma 

 is about five feet, and its height two feet and a half; its tail is about three feet long, just sufficient 

 to let the extremity of it touch the ground. The head is remarkably short and rounded, with the 

 muzzle rather broad ; the hair on the head is an irregular mixture of grey and black : the general 

 colour of the body is a bright silver fawn ; the throat, chin and upper lip are almost completely white, 

 as well as the inside of the limbs and the lower part of the belly. 



The whole of the western hemisphere may be considered as the natural domicile of the Puma, as 

 it has been found in Canada and the northern countries of the United States, and as far south as 

 Patagonia. The character of the animal, however, in regard to ferocity appears strikingly different, 

 in proportion as we proceed from the northern latitudes to the tropical climates, for, in the former, 

 many instances have occurred of the Puma being tamed, and actually living in a state of comparative 

 docility, as the companion and attendant of man ; but in the latter the ferocious and sanguinary dis- 

 position of the animal exhibits itself in its fullest force, and renders it an object of terror to the 

 natives of those countries where it has established its haunts. The rapid advances, however, which civili- 

 zation has made in the northern states of America have naturally led to the gradual diminution and 

 extinction of the tribes of ferocious animals, and the Puma may now be considered as nearly expelled 

 the northern American states, whilst it continues to pursue its sanguinary career in the deep recesses 

 and unfrequented jungles of the southern continent. There, in the most impervious forests, and moun- 

 tains almost inaccessible, it makes its predatory incursions into the plains, for the purpose of attacking 

 the domestic animals, particularly the horse, to whose flesh it appears to give the preference before that 

 of every other animal. In its habits, the Puma is generally characterized by the meanest cowardice, for 

 notwithstanding its greater magnitude and the extent of its muscular power, it seldom attacks any 

 animals which are able to compete with it, or over which it is not certain of the victory. In the 

 manner in which it seizes its prey, it bears a strong resemblance to the domestic cat: it approaches its 

 victim by crawling along upon its belly, gliding gently through the shrubs and bushes, and conceal- 

 ing itself in the ditches ; or, if it show itself, it assumes a mild and fawning appearance, but during 

 the whole of these manoeuvres it is only watching a favourable opportunity to seize the animal which 

 it has marked out for its victim ; which having done, at one leap it fastens itself on the back of its 

 prey, and in a few minutes tears it to pieces. Having satiated its thirst with the blood, and devoured 

 the flesh of the breast, it carries the remainder of the carcase into the nearest wood, where it conceals 

 it with leaves and boughs of trees, in order to devour it at its leisure. The natural cowardice of 

 the animal is, however, connected with an unusual degree of ferocity, scarcely to be equalled by any 

 of the more powerful species of its tribe. The thirst of blood is so great in this animal, that, unlike 

 other creatures of the same species, it is not content with a single victim : for if a flock of sheep 

 be left without a guardian, and a Puma should unfortunately come amongst them, it has been known 



