THE PUMA
Puma inhabits the whole of America, where
it is held in much dread by the natives. Its
color is a uniform gray, fading into white
on the under parts of its body, and this
similarity of color is the reason that the
name "con-color " has been given to it. It
lives much on trees, and usually lies along
the branches, where its uniform dusky fur
renders it so like the bark that it can
scarcely be distinguished from the branch.
This habit it preserves when in captivity.
Mr. Eaton Stone, the celebrated equestrian
who has traveled for many years in the
wilder parts of America, told me that the
puma is accustomed to follow men by
scent, and to track them on their journey,
waiting for an opportunity to spring upon
them unobserved. If the traveler keeps his
eye upon the animal it is perfectly
harmless, but it will wait for the moment
when his eye is with-drawn to spring upon
him.
The Americans always speak of this animal
as the panther, or "painter," as it is more
familiarly pronounced, and many authors
still term it the cougar, a word contracted
from the original elongate unpronounceable
Mexican name "Gouazouara."