THE MAMMALS OF FLORIDA. 



Family FELID.E. The Cats. 



FELIS CONCOLOR FLORIDANA Subsj>. lYov. 

 Panther, Cougar, Puma. 



Not uncommon in the unsettled portions of the State. 



The Florida Panther is apparently separable, at least, subspe- 

 cifically, from its more Northern congener, which it resembles in 

 general marking, but differs in being more rufous or reddish brown 

 in color, and in having the legs relatively longer and the feet de- 

 cidedly smaller. 



A most noticeable character in the Florida animal is the small 

 size of the foot. Several Northern examples which I have exam- 

 ined have the foot at least four inches broad, while those of a 

 Florida specimen of equal size would not exceed three inches. 



A female which I killed in April, 1895, measured about seven 

 feet from nose to tip of tail, and her forefoot measured two and 

 seven eighths inches in width. In a Colorado specimen of about the 

 same length the foot measured four and one eighth inches at the 

 widest part, and another specimen three and seven eighths inches. * 



It is rare that a Florida Panther exceeds nine feet in length, 

 although it is claimed that they occasionally grow larger. Both 

 Maynard and Chapman mention hearing of a large, spotted, long- 

 tailed cat, and suggest the possibility that it might be Fclis oiica. 

 I have never met with an Indian who had seen or heard of such an 

 animal. There is, however, an animal still living (or he was in 

 April, 1895,) in Florida, whose tracks are at least a third larger 

 than any Florida Panther I have ever seen. 



However, if he is ever killed (and I hope to sometime see his 



* A young Panther cub is tawny brown in color, marked with numerous large, irregular, brownish-black spots. 

 The cry of the cub resembles the screech of a Parrot, but it often utters a soft whistle. The cry of the old 

 Panther somewhat ressmbles the screech of a Parrot, but is much louder. 



