Caenivoe A. MAMMALIA. Cabnivoea. 
relates an instance of a Imnter having' captured two 
cubs, wliile the mother followed without making any 
attempt to attack, and finally disappeared on reach- 
ing the vicinity of the settlement. The natural habit 
of the Puma is to lie in wait upon branches of trees, 
and from thence to spring upon the prey. Some 
authors assert that the creature purposely pounces 
upon the shoulders, and forcibly draws back the head 
to dislocate the neck. Certainly it frequents the 
larger trees, and quickly seeks shelter in the branches 
when met by Man. 
Like other Cats, the Puma swims, though deeply, on 
account of its compact bulk ; and instances are record- 
ed of individuals crossing from the mainland to Terra 
del Fuego. We knew one instance of a Puma which 
had crossed from the mainland to one of the cays or 
islands of the Florida Reef, and the havoc which it 
occasioned for a distance of several miles, in various 
places, and on different cays, which were separated 
from each other by wide and deep channels, showed 
plainly that the creature took very readily to the 
water. It was in November, a pleasant season to 
visit this sub-tropical region. We were engaged, 
with a party of United States officers, detailed from 
Forts Taylor and Jefferson, for the purpose of survey- 
ing the long line of coral islands which extend from 
Tortugas to Cape Florida. It was just twilight — 
that period in the tropics between daylight and dark 
that surprises every new comer by its extraordinary 
brevity. We had tramped wearily along the extend- 
ed beach of Plantation Cay, and had come suddenly, 
about midway of the island, upon large tracks in the 
moist sand. Some great beast had, evidently, at this 
point, emerged from the thicket of mangroves. Here 
was a chance for our ambitious hunters. We measured 
the tracks; they were four inches wide by four and a 
half in length ; they were those of a Feline, and, con- 
sequently, none other than those of the Puma, for a 
large Dog would leave marks of the non-retractile 
claws, and no other northern Carnivore is so large. 
We soon arrived at the eastern end of the island, to 
which point the tracks were continuous, and where, 
in the ripple of the sea border, they vanish ; evident- 
ly the creature had taken to the channel and swam 
to the neighboring cay. Night closed in upon us ; 
the mangroves were here replaced by larger trees, 
and the deeper soil bore forth a rank growth of grass 
and shrubbery. In the dense mass of foliage, we dis- 
cerned a light, which came from a wrecker’s hut, the 
only human habitation we had met with on the reef. 
The surroundings were exceedingly sombre and sug- 
gestive. As is common near tropical homes, however 
humble, the cocoa-nut palm was here preeminent, 
rearing its grand plumes above the dark back- 
ground, and relieved against the star-lit sky, in all 
the beauty of its flowing leaflets. The dense under- 
growth, cavern-like, where, in the clearing, stood the 
rude habitation, reflected fitfully the lurid blaze of 
the camp-fire ; the broad, glossy foliage of the banana 
sparkled with the play of light ; the fire-flies, here 
and there, flecked the broad hiatus of darkness; while 
the wreckers, whose scared looks were quite in 
unison with the scene, gazed furtively about them. 
Isi 
and rehearsed to us their tale of wonder. Their 
simple ignorance allowed full play to credulous sur- 
mise and alarm. Though the Puma is well known 
to the inhabitants of Upper Florida, it is very sel- 
dom seen on the islands of the reef, and these simple 
wreckers were utterly confounded with fear. Some 
“ enormous creature had pounced down upon the 
cabin,” and the two mangled pups which we saw 
there attested plainly that mischief had been at- 
tempted. The men had mustered courage enough to 
chase the creature, whereupon the pups were aban- 
doned. The fact that the tracks disappeared at the 
edge of the cay, in direct line with the next nearest, 
was evidence that the creature had gone on for fur- 
ther plunder. Our party returned to the vessel to 
sleep over this exciting matter, and to make ready 
for a stalking hunt on the next night. Morning come, 
we were on shore at Metacombe Oay ; the tracks 
were visible here, too. Puma had swum directly 
across from Plantation Cay. After a day’s work 
along the shore, we reached the eastern end of Me- 
tacombe, where another brace of wreckers were en- 
camped. Here was the same story of rapine and 
bloodshed. During the night, the Puma had visited 
the hog-pen of the establishment, and, curiously 
enough, instead of leaping over the low bars of the 
pen, had deliberately bitten off a large piece of plank, 
and, seizing one of the hog’s ears, made off with it. 
The muscular power and strength of jaw required to 
accomplish this feat upon so stout a plank must be 
enormous. It was now proposed to build a fire near 
the hog-pen, and retire for the night in the wreckers’ 
cabin. A board was placed across the door-way, 
behind which Pablo, our cook, was to take the first 
watch ; he was charged with strict orders to call the 
party on the first signs of the enemy. Sleeping was 
a thing nearly impossible, for the mosquitoes were 
present in clouds. Near midnight, when the nearest 
approach to sleep had been attained, the report of 
Pablo’s rifle called every one to the front. The 
negro had lost all caution, and blazed away at the 
first sight of the beast. Several good shots, however, 
were up in good time, and we had the satisfaction of 
taking the measurement of one of the largest of his 
kind — a male Puma. His appetite had been sharp- 
ened by fasting, and the several attempts made to 
carry off his prey only resulted in whetting his desires 
for more, and thus it was a pretty safe conclusion to 
make that he would return for another attempt after 
tasting so daintily of the porker’s ear. He had crept 
stealthily along, and was just in sight, near the fire, 
when Pablo’s shot caused him to leap with a 
prodigious bound over the fire-brands ; but a second 
shot ended his career. Instances are not uncommon 
' in Upper Florida of this animal’s disposition to 
enter human domains. We have heard authentic 
reports of children being seized from the fields where 
the parents were at work. 
The Puma is occasionally killed in the Adiron- 
dacks, and the trivial name Painter, a corruption of 
Panther, has given, more than once, opportunity for 
amusing misapprehension. A timid cockney, who 
affects the two-fold accomplishment of “artist and 
