74 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-47TH PARALLEL. 
FELIS CONCOLOR, L. 
American Panther. 
Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 83. 
The cougar , incorrectly called panther, and American or California lion. This ferocious and 
blood-thirsty animal is very common in the Territory, where numbers are killed every year. It 
is more dreaded for its depredations on stock, however, than for a disposition to attack man, of 
which I never heard of an instance unless when it was wounded or in defence of its young. The 
Indians have a great fear of it, partly, no doubt, mixed with the superstitions which influence 
them so much. But in California, where it is abundant and grows to a great size, the hunters 
agree that it will always “ vamose” when met with, while, if a hunter suddenly meets a “ grizzly,” 
he considers it the “better part of valor” to “vamose” himself. I prepared a skin and skull 
of a young male cougar that was killed in February, 1854, at the “Cascades” of the Columbia. 
It had stolen a large hog, and when pursued and shot at several times, finally leaped on to a high 
stump, whence a rifle ball through the forehead soon brought it down. It being the rainy 
season, and no means at hand of drying the skin artificially, it was unfortunately spoiled. 
This one measured 7 feet 4 inches from nose to tip of tail, the tail itself being 2 feet 7 inches 
long. Height at fore shoulder 3 feet. Many have been reported in the papers as measuring 
from 9 to 11 feet in total length. The old idea that no feline animal will voluntarily take to 
the water, though now contradicted by many proofs, is still prevalent. In this animal we have 
an instance to the contrary. A steamboat descending the Columbia river met with one swim¬ 
ming across where the river was at least a mile and a half wide, and without difficulty the men 
succeeded in capturing it by means of noose thrown over it. It was sent to California, where 
I saw it exhibited in December, 1855. It was then full grown, very fat, and with beautiful 
glassy fur of a rich brown color. A few of the black stripes, more marked in southern specimens, 
could be seen along the sides and legs where the white of the under parts joined the brown. It 
was restless and playful, but with that treachery characteristic of the race in every movement. 
Its keeper ruled it with a rod of iron, to which it always showed strong objections by growling, 
spitting, and obstinately refusing to obey his commands as long as it dared to resist. 
Though thought to be common in many places where I have hunted, I never had the satisfaction 
of meeting with one in its native wilderness or even of hearing its terrible scream. 
. LYNX FASCIATUS, Raf. 
Red Cat. 
Lynx fasciatus, Raf. Am. Month. Mag. II, Nov. 1817, 46. 
Baird, Gen. Rep. Mammals, 1857, 96. 
Tiger cat, Lewis & Clark, Travels, II, 1814, 167. 
Sp. Ch. —Fur very soft and full. Ears pencilled. Color, rich chestnut brown on the back, a little paler on the sides and on 
the throat. A dorsal darker collar on throat, as dark as the sides. Region along central line of belly (rather narrow 
one) dull whitish, with dusky spots extending to lower part of sides. No spots or bands discernible on the upper part of sides. 
Ears black inside, with a very inconspicuous patch of grayish. Terminal third of tail above, black. 
The tiger cat of Lewis and Clark is very abundant in the forests of Washington Territory. 
The numbers that will resort to a farm yard, in a retired situation, for prey, is wonderful. 
One man told me that he had killed at his place, during one season, no less than fifteen, a 
large herd of young pigs being tbe attraction. His dog, but little larger than the wild cats, 
would boldly attack them, and though sometimes severely scratched, always came off victor. 
All that I have seen were very thin, so that they probably do not find much food in their forest 
