4 ARKIV FÖR ZOOLOGI. BAND 8. N:0 16. 



posterior end of the nasals is bluntly pointed, and there is a 

 considerable pit in the frontals at their junction with the 

 nasals. 



This Puma is probably most nearly related to Felis bangsi 

 Merriam, from which it differs with regard to cranial charac- 

 ters, by its much smaller skull, the basal length in F. bangsi 

 being 164, and the zygomatie breadth 128 mm, and all other 

 measurements in proportion, except the carnassial, which is 

 rather larger in this race. 



Merriam has also had a specimen from the Santa Marta 

 mountains, which »differs so strikingly in pelage and mar- 

 kings as to suggest the possibility, that it may be subspeci- 

 fically distinct — a high mountain form perhaps». I think, 

 I must agree with the author quoted about this. Perhaps, 

 this Sant Marta Puma belongs to the race described above. 

 It is at least very similar to it with regard to colour and pelage 

 and by having pinched in nasals, which lat ter is not the case 

 with the typical F. bangsi. 



The type of Felis concolor söder strömii described above is 

 an adult male from Nono, north western slope of Pichincha 

 (the mountain, on which Quito is situated). It occurs there 

 up to a height of 12,000 feet according to Consul Söderström'» 

 statements, and it is known to kill pigs, mules, donkeys etc. 



The young female is collected above Cotocollac, N. W. of 

 Quito at an altitude of 11,000 feet 2 % 1908. 



My friend Professor Lagerheim has told me, that it uses 

 to prowl around the dwellings of the Indians trying to snatch 

 away their small white dögs of which it appears to be parti- 

 cularly fond. 1 The natives know very well the difference be- 

 tween this furry Puma of the high mountains and the other 

 Puma from lower altitudes, the skin of which latter is of less 

 value. 



Whymper in his »Travels amongs the Great Andes of 

 the Equator» 3 mentions repeatedly Pumas from great alti- 

 tudes. For instance (1. c. p. 229): »Pumas, indeed, were rather 

 numerous in this neighbourhood [Cayambe]. A young horse 

 belonging to Senor Espinosa had just been killed by one, and 

 an Indian we passed reported that he had noticed another 



1 This is interesting as an analogy to the eagerness of the Leopards 

 in Africa to kill and eat dögs. 



2 London 1892. 



