“When wounded the puma grows furious and irresistible.  Here is a story which shows the fierceness of the animal:—­Two hunters having gone in quest of game to the Catskill mountains, province of New York, each armed with a gun, and accompanied by a dog, they agreed to go in contrary directions round the base of the hill, which formed one of the points of that chain of mountains; and it was settled that, if either discharged his piece, the other should hasten to the spot whence the report proceeded as speedily as possible, to join in the pursuit of whatever game might fall to their lot.  They had not been long asunder, when the one heard the other fire, and, agreeably to promise, hastened to join his companion.  He looked for him in every direction; but to no purpose.  At length, however, he came upon the dog of his friend, dead, and dreadfully lacerated.  Convinced by this, that the animal his comrade had shot at was ferocious and formidable, he felt much alarm for his fate, and sought after him with great anxiety.  He had not proceeded many yards from me spot where the dog lay prostrate, when his attention was arrested by the ferocious growl of some wild animal.  On raising his eyes to the spot whence the sound proceeded, he discovered a large puma couching on the branch of a tree, and under him the body of his friend.  The animal’s eyes glared at him, and he appeared hesitating whether he should descend, and make an attack on the survivor also, or relinquish his prey, and decamp.  The hunter, aware of the celerity of the puma’s movements, knew that there was no time for reflection, levelled his piece, and mortally wounded the animal, when it and the body of the man fell together from the tree.  His dog then attacked the wounded puma, but a single blow from its paw laid it prostrate.  In this state of things, finding his comrade was dead, and knowing it was dangerous to approach the wounded animal, he went in search of assistance, and on returning to the spot he found his companion, the puma, and the two dogs, all lying dead.

“The celebrated naturalist Audubon gives an interesting account of a hunt which he had after the puma, in one of the back settlements of North America.  In the course of his rambles he arrived at the cabin of a squatter on the banks of Cold-Water River, and after a hospitable reception, and an evening spent in relating their adventures in the chase, it was agreed in the morning to hunt the puma which had of late been making sad ravages among the squatter’s pigs.

“The hunters accordingly made their appearance just as the sun was emerging from the horizon.  They were five in number, and fully equipped for the chase, being mounted on horses which in some parts of Europe might appear sorry nags, but which, in strength, speed, and bottom, are better fitted for pursuing a puma or bear through woods and morasses than any in that country.  A pack of large ugly curs were already engaged in making acquaintance with those of the squatter.  He and myself mounted his two best horses, whilst his sons were bestriding others of inferior quality.