AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
27 
makes havoc among the visitants of these places. At other 
times, it approaches its prey by stealth, or stratagem, and 
secures its victim generally by a sudden bound, and when 
failing in this, seldom pursues, but sneaks off in search of 
other objects, as its form, although remarkably strong, and 
possessing astonishing agility, is unfitted for active pursuit. 
It is remarkably fond of birds, especially wild turkeys and 
pheasants; and when wild animals are no longer to be 
caught, it prowls about farm-houses, and near villages, when 
it becomes very destructive, by killing hogs, sheep, calves, 
&c. In attacking animals larger than itself, the Cougar 
springs on their backs, and never relaxes its hold until 
the victim falls beneath its power. Its manner of destroy- 
ing in this case, is by grasping firmly with its fore claws 
the sides of the animal, and then by ripping the back and 
loins with its hinder claws, and gnawing through the neck 
until the vitals are reached, the suffering beast falls, writh- 
ing in agonies, or the only possible chance of escape for the 
poor animal is by taking to water, should any be near, as 
the utter dislike of the feline species to this element, often 
causes the Cougar to lose its prey. Smaller animals, such 
as deer, sheep, hogs and calves, it usually strikes to the 
earth, and then seizing them by the throat, will commence 
sucking their blood, or throw them with ease over its 
shoulder, and depart for a more convenient place to devour 
its food at leisure. 
In its destrhctive habits, the Cougar resembles the Tiger 
more than any other animal. The lion, and most carnivo- 
rous animals, destroy only sufficient for their present neces- 
sities, but the Tiger and Cougar are not only ferocious, but 
cruel, when necessity no longer requires it. After destroy- 
ing their prey, they first suck the blood, and should more 
victims be present, go on destroying so long as subjects for 
destruction are within their reach. They have a thirst for 
blood which can hardly be satiated, and delighting so ex- 
cessively in carnage, they are excited with as much energy 
in killing the last, as they possessed when destroying their 
first victim; and this prodigality of life is more strikingly 
manifested by the fact, that when the carcass of their prey be- 
comes void of blood, or putrid, they forsake it entirely. 
It is one of those few animals whose ferocity is almost 
unconquerable; and when friendship and good treatment 
have in a measure softened its disposition, its constancy 
is very suspicious, and treachery is frequently manifest- 
ed towards the hand which is extended in kindness to- 
wards it.* 
* Instances are recorded of these animals having been tamed, and 
made as familiar to human society, as the domesticated cat. It is stated 
that D’Azara, the naturalist, had one, and Mr. Kean, the tragedian, ano- 
ther, which were much attached to them; and an acquaintance of the 
It is when a Cougar has become old, and its claws, 
teeth, and energies are failing, and can no longer success- 
fully follow wild animals, that it will venture near dwell- 
ings for food, or attack mankind. An instance of this kind 
occurred a few years since in the northern part of this 
state. A woman who was gathering beans from a small 
patch of ground in front of a log house, which had just been 
built in an uncultivated spot, was so teased by the barking 
of a small dog, which usually remained about the house, 
that she turned around to chide and drive it away, when to 
her dismay, she saw, sitting on a large stump, a Cougar, 
which had been kept in that position by the little guardian 
dog, from springing at and destroying an infant, that was sit- 
ting on the ground within twenty feet of the monster. The 
unconscious mother had placed her child there, while she 
completed her work; but on the discovery of the danger 
it was in, ran and caught it up, and conveyed it to the 
house, and closed the door; and the last she heard of 
the beast, was the distant barking of the small dog, which 
however soon ceased entirely. At dinner hour, the hus- 
band returned from his work, and having with him his 
rifle and large dog, (which were always his companions, 
when absent from home,) without delay went in pursuit of 
the monster, so soon as the above circumstances were made 
known to him, and after following for more than two miles, 
came up with and shot it, — and hearing nothing more of 
the little dog, curiosity led him to open the Cougar, in 
which he found the remains of the little animal which 
saved the life of his child. 
Another anecdote is related of a man that was cutting 
timber several miles from his dwelling, who as the sun was 
declining, left his work to return home. He had pro- 
ceeded only a short distance, when he saw in the snow, 
(which was a foot deep,) the tracks of a Cougar, which had, 
during that day, and while he was at work, crossed the path 
which led to his house. Having his rifle, and the sun being 
yet above the horizon, he concluded to follow the track in 
hopes of surprising and killing the animal before dark; he 
however was not a little surprised, to find that the enemy 
had made a short, circuitous route, round him, while chop- 
ping wood, and crouched itself on a fallen tree, within 
thirty yards of him, where it had been watching until his 
departure. But his surprise was still greater, when on 
pursuing the track further, to find, that the animal had 
proceeded up to the spot where he had been at work, and 
writer had a pair, which were taken by a boy in Kentucky, after the mo- 
ther had been killed, — these my friend kept and tamed, and were gene- 
rally very sociable and playful, but their friendship could never be de- 
pended on, for frequently, in the most unsuspected moments, they would 
show their treachery. 
