The Puma
HE PUMA, some- known to kill fifty in one night. Active times called the means are, therefore, constantly required couguar, has a very for its destruction, and it is either hunted, extensive range speared, or shot. over both North Two hunters went out in quest of game and South Amer- on the Catskill Mountains, in New York, ica.
The total each armed with a gun and accompanied length of the adult by his dog. It was agreed between them is from four feet to that they should go in contrary directions four feet and a half, round the base of the hill, and that if that of the tail from either discharged his piece, the other two feet to two feet and a half. The should cross the hill as expeditiously as females are somewhat less. possible, to join his companion in pursuit Though very active in climbing, this of the game shot at. Shortly after sepaanimal seems more to frequent the grassy rating, one heard the other fire, and, plains of the southern part of America agreeably to their compact, hastened to and the marshy meadow lands bordering his comrade. the rivers, than the forest, and is found After searching for him for some time in a country so open as to be frequently without effect, he found his dog dead and taken by the lasso, when attacking the dreadfully torn. Apprised by this disherds. In the northern districts it in-covery that the animal shot at was large habits the swamps and prairies, living and ferocious, he became anxious for his chiefly on different species of deer, on friend, and assiduously continued the which it is said to drop down from a tree, search for him; when his eyes were sudwhich it had ascended to watch their denly directed, by the deep growl of a path; or it makes inroads on the bogs of Puma, to the large branch of a tree, where the squatter, who has gone to the un- he saw the animal crouching on the body opened country. Other kinds of food of a man, and directing his eyes toward are sought after and taken without much him, apparently hesitating whether to discrimination. descend and make a fresh attack on the survivor, or to relinquish his prey and take to flight.
Conscious that much depended on celerity, the hunter discharged his piece, Unlike most of the animals of the tribe, it is not satisfied with the seizure of a single prey, but, when meeting with a herd of animals, will kill as many as it can, sucking only a small portion of the and wounded the Puma mortally, when it blood from each. It is thus extremely and the body of the man fell together destructive among sheep, and has been from the tree. The surviving dog then Mitze v Leben
