402 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



THE ARGENTINE PUMA 



[Fclis concolor pi/iiui) 



South of about latitude 25" the typical red puma is replaced by a silver- 

 erev form — the Fclis puma of the old Chilian naturalist Molina — which 

 extends into Northern Patagonia. According to Dr. P. Matschie,^ the 

 boundary between the rufous and grey forms is not sharply defined, as the 

 two are sometimes found together. 



THE PATAGONIAN PUMA 



[Fells concolor pearson'i) 



This very distinct form was described by O. Thomas'- in 1901 on the 

 evidence of a skin in the winter coat brought home from the Santa Cruz 

 district of Patagonia by Mr. C. A. Pearson, who went to that country in 

 quest of any possible survivors of the ground-sloth whose skin and hair were 

 discovered a few years ago in a cave at Ultima Esperanza Cove. This form 

 of puma is specially distinguished by its shaggy coat, short tail, extremely 

 pale coloration, and, above all, by the light-coloured outer surfiice of the 

 ears — a feature in which it differs from nearly all the members of the 

 cat tribe. The general hue of the fur is described as clay- coloured, 

 whereas that ot the Argentine puma is drab-grey. The backs of the ears 

 are whitish-fawn. 



' S.B. Gil. rutturfor. Berlin, 1S92, p. 220 ; and 1S94, p. 5S. 

 - Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hijt., faeries 7, vol. viii. p. I 88. 



