MAMMALIA. 
32 
but here the Panther jumped from a ledge of rocks about twenty feet 
above the level upon which the deer was standing. He struck it 
with such force as to knock it nearly a rod farther off. 
Under certain conditions of the deep snows the deer cut in so 
deeply that the poor animals can make but slow progress. At such 
times a Panther, by spreading the toes of his great broad, paws, 
simulates a man on snow-shoes and sinks but a short distance in the 
snow. He thus gains a vital advantage over his prey, and will now 
give chase to and capture one that he missed on his first spring. 
Under no other circumstances will a Panther pursue a deer, for he 
is too well aware of the uselessness of an attempt to overtake so fleet 
an animal. Immediately upon killing one he drags it bodily into 
some dense thicket or windfall, where he will not be likely to be 
observed. He has thus been known to drag a full-grown deer con- 
siderably over a hundred feet before reaching a satisfactory covert. 
Unlike the wolf, he makes the most of his prey and devours it 
all before killing another. One deer generally lasts a Panther a 
week or ten days, and during this time he may usually be found 
within a mile of the carcass, hidden under some log or uprooted tree. 
Sometimes, but very rarely, does he partially bury it, after each meal, 
by scraping leaves and brush over it. When all but enough for 
one or two meals has been eaten, the Panther, especially if a female 
with young, will often make another hunt, but if unsuccessful returns 
to the remains of the old carcass. 
The young follow the mother till nearly two years old — that is 
until about two-thirds grown. She leaves them when hunting, and, 
after having killed a deer, returns and leads them to it. 
It is often stated that Panthers hunt in pairs, but on one occasion 
only has Mr. Sheppard found an adult male and female in company. 
This was early in December and the tracks on the snow indicated 
that they had been sporting considerably, and were probably rutting. 
He killed them both. 
The range of these animals, as individuals, is very extensive, and 
