A PERFECT SPECIMEN OF MOUNTAIN LION. 
The acme of daring on the part of the South American puma is, however, 
reached in the attacks which it makes upon the jaguar; and it appears that 
in North America the puma exhibits an equally marked hostility to the grizzly 
hear. In these respects the puma is undoubtedly entitled to be regarded as one 
of the boldest and fiercest of carnivores in proportion to. its size. 
I once, and once only, killed a puma, and nothing will induce me to. kill 
another. On the occasion referred to a puma was found, which sat perfectly 
still with its back against a stone, not even moving when lassoed. I dis-' 
THE STORY OF THE MOUNTAIN LION . 119 
on horses to the colts, but will also attack and kill full-grown adults. The 
same is true for cattle, among which calves more generally, and cows rarely, 
fall victims to the puma’s rapacity. Horned cattle are, however, less preferred 
than sheep, which, next to horse-flesh, forms its favorite food in pastoral dis¬ 
tricts. Indeed, so partial are pumas to mutton, that one has been known to> 
make use of a calf-pen as a place of concealment from which to. raid on a sheep- 
fold, passing through the former without offering to molest its tenants. 
