THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



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"In the fall of 1912 Mr. Schonberg found the cougar about ten feet 

 from the carcass of a deer; the deer was badly bitten on the back of the 

 neck and the cougar had a hole in the side of its head, as shown in the skull. 

 These were the only marks he could find on either of the animals. From all 

 indications, the cougar attempted to climb a nearby tree after it had gotten 

 the fatal blow in the head, as the bark of the tree was clawed up about 

 eight or ten feet and the cougar was lying where it fell back. The ani- 

 mals had evidently been dead a week or more, as both hides were spoiled. 



"The only explanation of the occurrence is that the deer got in a fatal 

 blow with its horns. It may have been accidental,, in its efforts to escape, 

 or it may have put up a fight and won, at least to the extent of killing the 

 cougar. The cougar, no doubt, killed the deer after it had been fatally 

 wounded and, with its strength failing, natural instinct prompted it to 

 climb a tree. It is not uncommon for such animals when mortally hurt to 

 do this." 



A similar incident was noted by Mr. Fred Floeter, of Trenholm, Co- 

 lumbia county, during the winter of 1912 and 1913. He treed a large cougar 

 with his dogs. When the animal was killed and examined, Mr. Floeter found 

 that it had a wound in the flank which was evidently made by the horn of 

 a deer which had penetrated the body about five inches. The wound seemed 

 comparatively fresh, but all the hair had been licked off around the cut. 

 Upon examination of the claws of the cougar they showed a bloodshot con- 

 dition at the base. 



Mr. Floeter thought the cougar had attacked a good-sized buck, but 

 had secured a poor hold, allowing the deer to turn and get the better of the 

 big cat. 



HAWKS FIGHT OVER RABBIT. 



Mr. and Mrs. Bart Shea, of Burns, report a very interesting sight viewed 

 from their farm near Crow Camp, one day during the past winter. 



A large American goshawk had caught a rabbit and was carrying it 

 away when it was attacked by another hawk, of the same species, seeking to 

 deprive it of its prey. Both birds had attained a considerable height when 

 the robber, after making several unsuccessful attempts from above, darted 

 in from below and fastened upon the rabbit, wresting it from the opponent. 

 Hawk number two was turned several times in the air by the falling rabbit, 

 and, before it could regain its equilibrium, had lost its hold on the ill-gotten 

 treasure. Just at that instant hawk number three appeared on the scene 

 and, swooping down, picked up the coveted prize before it had reached the 

 ground and made away with it, unpursued 



Pag-e five 



