18 
Quadrupeds. 
c^A 
THE PUMA. (Felis concohr.) 
The Puma, or American Lion, is smaller than the 
jaguar, and has a shrill hissing cry, very different from 
that of other animals of the cat kind. The fur is of a 
silvery fawn-colour, nearly white below, but becoming 
black at the head ; the animal has no mane, and its tail 
is without any tuft at the tip. The cubs are spotted 
when young. The habits of the Puma are somewhat 
peculiar ; when attacked, he climbs the nearest tree for 
safety, and there is generally shot by his hunters. 
When hunted with dogs, however, and cut off from all 
retreat, he stands at bay and fights furiously. The 
flesh is eaten by the Indians, and is said to be much 
prized by them. The Puma flies from the sight of man, 
and seldom attacks any animal larger than a sheep ; but 
when he can surprise a flock of sheep, he kills as many 
as he can, only sucking the blood of each. He never 
devours the whole of his prey at once, carefully cover- 
ing with leaves what he cannot eat : but if these should 
be removed, he will not touch the food again. In 
former times the Puma inhabited nearly the whole 
American continent, from Canada to Patagonia, but it 
is now extirpated in many places, especially in North 
