TUK AMEWICAX IWNTIIER. 



541 



seems to \)v i\ consensus of belief thai the speeies wms never al)nn- 

 dant in this State after the beginning of the nineteenth century. 



The Prince of Wied says that it had already become extinct at 

 New PTarmony in 1832. Mr. Chansler gives the following records 

 for Knox and Daviess counties: One seen in 1825 by Mr. B. Thomp- 

 son; one in 1828 by N. B. Bruce; two in 1883 by A. Stafford; one 

 near Vincennes in 1837 by Felix Buchie. 



Evermann and Butler say that two young were taken east of 

 Brookville in 1838. The historian of Morgan County says that 

 panthers were killed in that county, but gives no dates. In the 

 history of Brown County it is stated that they were seen as late 

 as 1836, and the following incident is given : ' ' Green Graham, on 

 one occasion, went from Jackson's salt works east past Weed Patch 

 Knob. He was riding a mare and was accompanied only by a colt 

 and a cur dog. On nearing the summit of the hill he thought he 

 heard some one call. He answered and the call was repeated sev- 

 eral times, growing nearer all the while. At last, just as he reached 

 the top of the Knob, his horse became frightened and he noticed that 

 his dog was also frightened. A minute later the leaves rustled at 

 the right and he saw two huge cat-like forms skulking through the 

 weeds. He knew that the animals were panthers, and put the whip 

 to his mare, going down the hill at a breakneck pace and escaping 

 the animals." 



Dr. U. H. Farr, of Paragon, tells of seeing an animal in 1851 

 when a child of five, which older people told him was a panther, 

 judging from his description. Mr. Cicero Sims tells of capturing 

 "what was called a mountain lion" in a wolf pen in Clinton coun- 

 ty. The exact date is not given, but must have been about 1840. 

 His description of the animal leaves no doubt that it was a cougar. 



Dr. S. C. Richardson, of Indianapolis, tells of going fishing one 

 night in 1851, when he and three companions were threatened by 

 a panther which they frightened away by rushing toward it with 

 their fish gigs and an ax. It was only seen indistinctly in the moon- 

 light, but its screams were heard as it retreated through the woods. 

 Dr. Richardson's father killed a panther which he discovered 

 crouched in a tree, apparently waiting to spring upon him, some- 

 time previous to 1850. The exact date and place are not given. 

 About the same time one of his steers was attacked in the woods 

 not far from home and horribly lacerated by one of these great cats. 



Habits. — According to the most reliable naturalists who have 

 studied the cougar, we must class as "nature fakirs" those who 

 write stories of adventure in which the great cats figure as cour- 



