NORTH AMERICA 



83 



short legs. The upper part of his body is 

 of a silvery fawn color ; the under parts are 

 nearly white. He is of a cowardly disposi- 

 tion, but like most cowards, is very san- 

 guinary, and will often kill more than he can 

 eat. In seizing his prey the cougar crawls 

 upon his belly through the shrubs and bush- 

 es ; as soon, however, as he can reach his 

 victim, he springs upon his back with one 

 bound, and soon tears it to pieces. He 

 chmbs trees with agility, and often descends 

 with a sudden and fatal leap from the 

 branches upon the unsuspecting deer. This 

 animal is found in all the unsettled parts of 

 the United States. He will seldom attack 

 a man, yet instances are recorded in which 

 individuals have fallen victims to his ra- 

 pacity. Dr. Godman gives an account of a sportsman who was killed by a cougar in the 

 Catskill Mountains, a few years since, and whose body was soon after discovered in the 

 possession of the animal upon one of the branches of a large tree. 



Of the lynx or short-tailed cat, which is not much larger than the domestic cat, there are 

 several species in North America. The Canada lynx {Felis Canadensis) is abundant in the 

 regions about Hudson's Bay, and preys upon rabbits and hares. Its skins are exported in 

 great numbers. 



The Opossum (^Didelphis Virginiana) is found from Pennsylvania to Brazil. He walks 



awkwardly, and seldom runs ; a man can 

 easily overtake him without hastening his 

 steps. He climbs up trees with great 

 facility, hides himself in the leaves to 

 catch birds, or hangs himself by the tail 

 from a branch. He sometimes remains a 

 long time in this situation, witliout motion, 

 his body hanging head downwards, while 

 he silently waits for his prey. Though 

 he is voracious, and even greedy of blood, 

 which he sucks with avidity, he feeds 

 also upon reptiles, insects, potatoes, roots, 

 and even the upper bark and leaves of 

 trees. He is neither wild nor ferocious, 

 and may be rendered domestic. The 

 savages of the western country hunt the 

 opossum, and feed heartily upon his flesh. The most remarkable circumstance in the natural 

 history of this animal, is the pouch which is formed under the belly of the female, as a retreat 

 for her young ones. This they leave to seek subsistence, and return when terrified, or in order 

 to sleep. The mother, when she flies, carries them all with her. 



The Prairie Marmot {Arctomys Ludovicianus) ^ or Wistonwis, commonly called Prairie 

 Dog^ builds his dwelling in the barren tracts of the western country, and may often be seen 

 sitting by the small mounds of earth, which indicate his abode, in an attitude of profound 

 attention. Whole acres of land are occupied by these little tenants, and villages are found, 

 containing thousands of inhabitants. Near the Rocky Mountains these villages are found to reach 

 several miles. The burrow extends under ground, but to what distance has not been determined. 



This Marmot, like the rest of the species, remains torpid during the winter. It is very 

 much annoyed in its habitation by owls, rattlesnakes, lizards, and land tortoises, who appro- 

 priate these comfortable dwellings for their own use, and frequently destroy the young marmots. 



The Hoary Marmot^ or Whistler^ {Jlrctomys pruinosvs), inhabits the Rocky Mountains. 

 It burrows in sandy soil, and may frequently be seen cutting hay, either for food or for its nest. 

 While a party of them are employed in this way, if they are disturbed, the sentinel who sits 

 near on an eminence, gives the alarm by a shrill whistle, which may be heard at a great distance, 

 and is repeated from one marmot to the other as far as their burrows extend. The Whistler 



