FELIS. 63 
had been found in the forest a league or two below the village, and run to bay by dogs, 
which kept it there whilst the Indians fetched their guns and shotit. The Puma has the 
character of being a cowardly animal, always ready to escape from pursuit; when hard 
pressed, it climbs a tree out of the reach of the dogs, and thus easily falls a prey to the 
Indian hunters. It nevertheless isa dangerous neighbour to a cattle-farm, where it 
makes raids upon the stock.” 
In Campeachy Dampier says :—‘“‘I never did see any Lion in this country; but I 
have been informed by two or three Persons that they did see Lions here: But I am 
assured that they are not numerous” *. Pumas, however, were formerly exceedingly 
plentiful in many parts of Mexico. Professor Baird quotes Clavigero’s History of 
Lower California to the effect that that province was so overrun with “Lions” that 
the natives were kept in absolute subjection to the brutes, and were often glad to make 
a meal on the remains of their prey. This increase was owing to a superstition which 
prevented the Indians from killing a Puma or even disturbing it in any way; and this 
belief was so fixed in their minds that it long resisted the utmost efforts of the Jesuit 
Missionaries, who found that they were unable to keep up their stock of domestic 
animals, owing to the ravages of the wild beasts ?. 
5. Felis yaguarundi. 
Felis yagouaroundi, Desmarest, Mamm. p. 230 (1820, ex Azara)’. 
Felis mexicana, Desmarest, loc. cit. (ex Buffon, nec de Saussure) 
Felis yaguarundi, Wagner, Suppl. Schreb. Saugth. ii. p. 41, pl. ciii.s’; Baird, Rep. U.S. Mex. 
Bound. Surv. ii., Mamm. p. 12‘; Tomes, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 287°; Frantzius, Arch. f. Naturg. 
xxxv. l, p. 278°. 
Leon monero, Leon miquero, of Costa-Ricans’. 
Hab. Mexico (Buffon?; Liebmann, Mus. Hafn.), Tamaulipas (Berlandier*); GuatTeMaLa, 
Vera Paz, Pacific coast (Salvin, Mus. Brit.5); Costa Rica, Dota and Candelaria 
Mountains (Frantzius®); Panama (Boucard, Mus. Brit.)—Sourh AmMERIca to 
Paraguay t. 
2 
° 
This singular dark-coloured Cat is a truly Neotropical species, its range extending 
from Paraguay to the North-eastern States of Mexico. It presents considerable 
variation in size, and in the ruddy or cinereous tints of its finely annulated fur; but 
this is neither connected with structural differences nor with geographical distribution, 
both greyish and reddish animals being found in the same locality. 
__M. Boucard has received the Yaguarundi from Veragua; but in Costa Rica it is 
rare and confined to the higher mountain forests; Dr. v. Frantzius could only 
procure four imperfect skins from the Dota and Candelaria ranges®. In Guatemala 
Mr. Salvin found it on the Pacific coast, as well as in the highlands of Vera Paz. In 
* Dampier’s Voyages, il. p. 62, 
