Inter-Mountain Farmer | 1902-08-05 | Page 11 | A Panther's Den

A PANTHER'S DEN. It was my good forturn to discover the newly nlmndnmd liilr of n con-gnr con-gnr family nnd further, und to me new, ftvldtnco of thnt fastidiousness cleanliness clean-liness which ns a itiurked chnrneterls-tlo chnrneterls-tlo of tho iinlinnl This retreat wes not nt all the tsplcnl "patilher'B den" of tradition, but n bush-Rrown hnrborngo under the edge of u roek with Just enough of shelf to keep off the rnln I shniild nnt have found thts breeding plate but for n certain well-gnawed nrroy of bones suitteied over n llttlo smooth benth above u creek channel. Prom this bnnosmd there was a very trnceabli path leading through grass and blush tn the retreat whero the dam had housed her joung. Tlie evldenro hem told plainly of tho cougar's long Immunity from 11111105111110 nnd uttutk and nf n thorouRhly tlonnly hnblt of life. Thero wns no bone or other sign of flatting about Iho I u I r. Th dam had tarried her kill to tho creek benth In every Instance, and the thlldreii had been culled tn tho dining room As bones whhh would hnvo bcin ( runrhtd or eutcti by giown nnlmals hnd been perfectly ileum d by tho kits, I wns nlilo tn Judge nt tlulr summer'H diet, litis had consisted mostly or minor gnine, rubhltJ, marinots, grouse, and tho like, with nn otcnslonnl unnll deer. At len-t ono whole family of badgers, old an soutiR. hud been served, pussy having piobably luln fm tliem nt their hole until hey wen all In -P anklln Welles Ciilklna In July Outing.