THE PUMA 



(Felis concolor) 



THE Puma, the only other large self-coloured Cat besides the Lion, 

 usurps the name of that animal in many parts of America, to which 

 continent, like the Jaguar, it is restricted. It is an animal of many 

 aliases, being sometimes known in North America at any rate as 

 the Cougar, and more frequently as the "Painter," a corruption of 

 " Panther." Although, of course, quite a distinct animal from the 

 Panther or Leopard, it is better compared with that animal than with 

 the Lion, which it only resembles in colour, whereas in size, form, and 

 general habits its resemblance to the Leopard is very great. 



The average length of the Puma is that of an ordinary-sized Leopard, 

 but there appears to be at least one individual on record as big as a 

 Lioness. On the whole, however, Pumas do not vary in size so much 

 as Leopards do, nor are they so diversified in colour. Their range of 

 colour-variation is much like that of the Lion, some individuals being 

 redder and others greyer,- while absolutely black and white varieties 

 seem to be unknown. In Patagonia the Pumas are particularly grey, 

 though a reddish variety, with a shorter tail, is also found there. There 

 is no sex-difference in Pumas, but the young cubs are very unlike the 

 old animals, being strongly spotted with black, and having black rings 

 on the tail which seems to point to the fact that the Puma was once 

 a spotted animal in a previous stage of its evolution. 



The Puma has such a wide range in the New World that it may 

 well be considered the characteristic beast of that continent, for it ranges 

 from Canada in the north right down to the extremity of South America. 

 It is not at all particular about climate or situation, living on mountain- 

 tops near the snow-line, in forests, or on open plains ; it is an active 

 climber among either trees or rocks, and will make its lair in a cave 

 or a swamp, or under the giant grasses of the Pampas. On the whole, 



