Puma 395 



THE PUMA 



[Felis coiicolor) 

 (Plate VIII. Fig. 7) 



When the early Spanish conquistadores of South America met with a 

 large tawny-coloured cat they gave it the name of Icon, and were much 

 surprised that they only encountered (as they thought) females. Hence 

 the title ot American lion is in common use for this species. In Europe, 

 however, it is almost universally known by its Peruvian title, puma, or 

 pooma, which is likewise largely used in South America. There are, how- 

 ever, several other South American names for this cat, among them being 

 cuguacu-ara, or cuguacuarana, from which the French naturalist Buffon 

 formed the abbreviation couguar, now in common use in the States. On 

 the other hand, by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay the name giiazuara is 

 applied to this cat ; while by other tribes it is called either yagiia-pita 

 (red dog) or yagliati (white dog). In Brazil it is known as suyuarana and 

 onfa vermetha. Its most unfortunate title is, however, " painter," a 

 corruption ot panther, by which it is commonly known in the States, for if 

 there is one cat that the puma does not resemble it is the spotted leopard, 

 or panther, of the Old World. 



As the puma is the only large uniformly coloured true cat inhabiting 

 America, there is no possibility of its being confounded with any other 

 member of its tribe. From the lion of the Old World it is broadly 

 distinguished by the absence of a mane in the male ; and in size it is 

 generally inferior to the jaguar. The general colour of the fur on the 

 upper parts is some shade of tawny, varying locally from fawn to rufous 

 brown, and being darker on the middle line of the back, and often also 

 on the tail, than elsewhere ; the tail-tip being dusky brown or black. 

 Externally the ears are blackish, with a light central area ; the upper lip, 



