Shannon Stirnweis (Arizona, New York, New Hampshire Oregon, B. 1931) "Mockingbird" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card of the 22c Mountain Lion issued on June 13, 1987. Fascinating and mysterious, Mountain Lions range throughout areas of primitive wilderness. They search for food, roaming rugged mountains during daylight hours. Swift, sure-footed, and extremely shy, Mountain Lions are rarely seen by man. Their tawny coats blend with the wilderness, but if accidentally approached, they will usually flee rather than attack. This antisocial behavior extends even among themselves. Except for a brief mating period, Mountain Lions lead solitary lives. At first the kittens feed only on their mother's milk. Eventually she brings bones and meat scraps home for the little ones and they are gradually weaned. As they grow, kittens are cuffed and tumbled, taught to obey, and trained to hunt. By their second year, cubs become independent and they, too, take up the solitary existence common to their parents. Mountain Lions once ranged over much of North America. Today they are generally confined to the mountainous Western states, but can be found in Florida and eastern Texas. Image Size: 13.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 22.5 in. Unframed. (B11031)