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."