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FELIS CONCOLOR
fire, retired, ‘turned in,” and were soon fast asleep. The night waned, and by degrees a drizzling rain, suceeded by
heey shovrer pattering on the leaves and on their canvas roof, which sheltered them from its fury, helf awakened on
of them, when on a eudden the savage grow! of s Cougar was heard, and in an instant the animal pounced upon the
fent and overthrew it. Our raftsmen did not feel the full foree of the blow, as the slight poles of the tent gave way,
Ihe impetus of the spring earred the Panther over them ; they started up and scufled out of the tent wih
to quit and by the dim light of their fre, which the rain had nearly extinguished, saw the animal
thom and ready for another leap ; they hastily seized two of the buming sticks, and whirling them
heads with loud whoops, seared away the midnight prowler. After this adventure they did not, however
ore that night.
Tn Paraguay, according to Azara, the Puma, being so much less ferocious than the Jaguar, has been almost extirpated
by the inhabitants. Tt rarely attacks cows or horses, but confines itself to colts, ealves, sheep, and smaller quadrup
and its disposition is so cruel that, if it has an opportunity, it will kill many more animals than it ean posibly ea;
merely for the satisfaction of sucking their blood. The female brings forth two oF three young at a time; and the period
testation is about 96 0r 97 days. In captivity the Cougar has frequently exhibited a very gentle disposition
me that was presented to Avara became as tame as a dog. It was chained to keep it from the poultry, but play
every one; and on an orange being given to it, the ereature threw it about and eau
THe nover saw it become iritated ; and it seemed not to distinguish between persons. When rubbed
Tt used to hide the supertlaous food given to it with sand, as it had
or tickled it lay down and purred like a cat
trav, and, before eating, placed the flesh in the drinking-vessel and washed it Wilson also had one of these animals,
ariel appeared to be as gentle ns the one possessed by Azara. Tt was very fond of bathing, and frequently jumped in
eae or a lange tub, evincing great satisfaction. Tt escaped once in London during the night, but permitted itself
out making any resistance. On its way to Engl
to be taken by a watchman witl nl it was intimate with :
‘nonkeys that were on board the ship, but never offered to injure them, although the monkeys frequently insulted
‘or fowl came within reach it was immediately killed
it in many ways but if a go
th two young in the mena Jon Zoological Society. ‘The mother was very
Tn 1852 a Puma brought f
gentle and. permitted the keeper to enter her cage and handle the eubs. They were pale fawa-eolour and spotted with
blackish brown, as shown in the Plat carry them about in her mouth from place to ia
before littering she broke all the straw in pieces and made a nest. In the early settlements of America
the Cougar sas called a lin, and the skins brought in hy the hunters were supposed to be those of females; and i
wvas said that the males were too active and fieree to be taken
The Puma generally makes its lai in some hole or eave in the rocks, near to the entrance, withdrawn only so far as
om the weather. Where there are no rocks, as in portions of southern North America it mak
Tnosses, &e, in a dense cane-break (siiciently thick to protect the animal by its overhanging
magar utters a peculiarly shrill ery or shrick ; and I once heard this in the dead of night, when enc
John’s river in Florida. ‘The animal seemed to be directly over my tent; and the unearthly yell made my flesh en
Trought me out ¢0 the fire, chat was buming brightly before the tent, in a moment. T could see nothing, however,
‘he doknese: all was sill; and after waiting a short time, in hopes of getting a shot at the intruder, I retumed
‘he tent, The Puma expreses satisfution and pleasure by puring like the tame cat s but when angered, usual
Although the adult is ger oid of all spots or markings, the young are, on the contrary, much
: os they get older. Notwithstand
ted, expecially on the legs and loins, these spots gradually disappearing
treat extent of country over Which this species roams, there do not appear to be any indications whatever of
frore than one speciew. Some are lighter in the colour of their coats than others; and T have noticed that
of tail vies considerably; but this is also to be seen in many species of this
sown, when they begin to hunt a Kide for themselves; they
The eubs are nursed by the mot
however, leave the dam until she is ‘Young, when she probably drives them away, or they seek
themelves, This species is about five fet in length from the nose to the end of the tail, this last be
length. The female is slightly smaller than the male
Beane ali Irn ghy darker on the il, Line sve the ey, upper lip in fon
FELIS CONCOLOR
checks, throat and breast beneath pure white. A broad black mark on each side of the upper lip. ‘Tail Frequently
tipped with black. Nose to root of tail 3 fect 9 inches; tail 2 feet 4 inches,
Winter is a dark grey oF mouse-colour, with certain parts of the body white, as mentioned abore
Young are bright buff, spotted all over with dark brown or brownish black; the tail also ringed and tipped with
brown. ‘These spots become reduced in size asthe animal gets older, and at length they disappear altogether
‘The skull of the Pama is very deep anteriorly, and in its profile view is greatly arched above, and in some specimens
poseanes a well-developed crest. ‘The face is short, and nearly on a level withthe forehead, with rather narrow nasals
trhich extend to a point at their frontonasal articulation, and are deeply depressed in their centre, forming a groove
slong the symphysis Infraorbital foramen o Brainease short, regulaely arched, or rounding evenly outward,
‘vith the parietal suture well back, giving a rather “long-waisted” appearance to the skull when viewed from above
Tnfimorbital space rather narrow. Mandibular ramus straight for three fourths its length from the symphysis, then eurving
slightly downward to the angle, Malar bone broad, and, with the 23gome, forming an oblong curve. Canines stout,
rather broad at their crown, but not of any considerable te Molar series well developed. ‘The on hyoi
tated by Mivart (The Cat, p- 897), is connected with the skull by a continuous ein of bones, as in the Cat |