76 
CARNIVORA. 
for a meal, it will cover and conceal the residue for 
a second repast ; in which it differs also from the 
jaguar, which is not so provident. In other re- 
spects, as to form, movements, mode of attack, &c. 
it resembles the jaguar in particular, . and the cat 
tribe in general. 
Azara possessed a tame puma, which was as 
gentle as any dog, but very inactive. It would play 
with any one ; and, if an orange were presented to 
it, would strike it with the paw, push it away, and 
seize it again, in the manner of a cat playing with a 
mouse. It had all the manners of a cat, when en- 
gaged in surprising a bird, not excepting the agi- 
tation of the tail ; and purred, when caressed, like 
that animal. 
An incident occurred, a few years back, not far 
from New York, which disproves the assertion of 
Molina and Azara, that the puma will not attack a 
man ; and, while it shows the ferocity of the animal, 
evinces that its power is not much inferior to that of 
the jaguar. Two hunters went out in quest of game 
on the Katskill mountains, in the province of New 
York, on the road from New York to Albany, each 
armed with a gun, and accompanied by his dog. It 
was agreed between them, that they should go in con- 
trary directions round the base of a hill, which formed 
one of the points in these mountains ; and that, if 
either discharged his piece, the other should cross 
the hill as expeditiously as possible, to join his com- 
panion in pursuit of the game shot at. Shortly after 
separating, one heard the other fire ; and, agreeably 
