FELID^E 521 



particularly at their base, and a patch on each side of the muzzle 

 black ; the end of the tail dusky. The young are, when born, 

 spotted with dusky brown and the tail ringed ; these markings 

 gradually fading, and quite disappearing before the animal becomes 

 full-grown. 



The Puma has an exceedingly wide range of geographical 

 distribution, extending over a hundred degrees of latitude, from 

 Canada in the north to Patagonia in the south, and was formerly 

 pretty generally diffused in suitable localities from the Atlantic to 

 the Pacific Ocean, but the advances of civilisation have in recent 

 years considerably curtailed the extent of the districts which it 

 inhabits. In Central America it is still common in the dense forests 

 which clothe the mountain ranges as high as 8000 or 9000 feet 

 above the sea -level, where the hideous sound of its howling is 

 said to be almost continuously heard at night during the breeding 

 season. Though an expert climber, it is by no means confined to 

 wooded districts, being frequently found in scrub and reeds along 

 the banks of rivers, and even in the open pampas and prairies. Its 

 habits much resemble those of the rest of the group to which it 

 belongs ; and, like the Leopard, when it happens to come within 

 reach of an abundant and easy prey, as the sheep or calves of an 

 outlying farming station, it kills far more than it can eat, either 

 for the sake of the blood only or to gratify its propensity for 

 destruction. It rarely attacks man, and, when pursued, escapes if 

 possible by ascending lofty trees. Several instances have occurred 

 of Pumas becoming tame in captivity. Edmund Kean, the cele- 

 brated actor, had one which followed him about like a dog. When 

 caressed they express their pleasure by purring like a domestic 

 cat. 



F. onca, the Jaguar, is a larger and more powerful animal than 

 the last, and more resembles the Leopard in its colours. It also is 

 found in both Xorth and South America, but with less extensive 

 range, reaching northwards only as far as Texas, and southwards 

 nearly to Patagonia. It climbs as well as the Puma, and preys to 

 a great extent upon monkej^s. Several allied smaller elegantly 

 spotted forms inhabiting the intratropical regions of America are 

 commonly included under the name of Ocelot or Tiger Cat, though 

 zoologists are still undecided whether under this designation several 

 distinct species have not been confused, or whether all the Ocelots 

 are to be referred to a single species (F. pardcdis) showing great 

 individual or racial variation. Their fur has always a tawny yellow 

 or reddish-gray ground colour, and is marked with black spots, 

 aggregated in streaks and blotches, or in elongated rings enclosing 

 an area which is rather darker than the general ground colour. 

 They range through the wooded parts of tropical America, from 

 Arkansas in the north as far south as Paraguay, and in their habits 



