MAMMALS 285 



United States. Of these species about 6 are different geographical 

 races of pumas, which are the only native cats ranging over the whole 

 country, while the other 3 species are Central American cats which 

 occur along the Mexican border. The pumas are characterized among 

 cats by the following features; large size, slender build, a small head, a 

 long tail and absence of color markings. They are confined to America, 

 ranging from southern Patagonia to southern British America. The 

 domestic cat, F. domcstica, is a descendant of the Egyptian wild cat, 

 F. maniculata, but with a considerable admixture of the European wild 

 cat, F. catus. The yellow tabby cat is probably the result of such a 

 cross. The domestic cat usually bears from 3 to 6 at a birth. The 

 puma bears from 2 to 5 young, which are often spotted and have ringed 

 tails. 



Key to the United States Species of Fells 



ai Color uniform, without spots or stripes, 

 bi Size large; legs long; pumas. 



Ci In the northeastern States F. concolor 



C2 In Florida F. coryi. 



C3 In Louisiana F. arundivaga. 



C4 In the Far-west F. oregonensis. 



bo Size smaller; legs short F. cacomitli. 



3 2 Color not uniform; body spotted or striped. 



bi Size large; body spotted and without stripes; jaguar F. hernandesii. 



h-y Size smaller; body with both spots and stripes F. pardalis. 



F. concolor L. Puma; cougar; mountain lion; panther; painter; 

 catamount. Color uniform yellowish brown or fulvous, darker mid- 

 dorsally; under parts reddish or whitish; tail tipped with black or 

 brown; length 2,400 mm.; tail 750 mm.; hind foot 250 mm.; weight 

 about 150 lbs.: eastern and central America; northward into southern 

 Canada; extinct in all well settled regions, but may still exist in the 

 Adirondacks and the higher Alleghanies of Pennsylvania and West 

 Virginia. 



F. coryi Bangs. Florida cougar. Size large; head large and 

 massive; feet small; color of back very dark: central Florida. 



F. arundivaga Hollister. Size large; color grayish fawn above; 

 tail darker, with a dark brown median line; throat and breast white; face 

 blackish, with a white streak over each eye: cane-brakes of Louisiana. 



F. oregonensis Ralinesque. Western puma; mountain lion. Size 

 large; color dull fulvous; head large and massive: Rocky Mountain and 

 Pacific coast regions. 



