PUMA 



339 



which the type locality is Brazil) has been split up into a number of so-called 

 species ; but it is from every point of view far preferable to regard such forms 

 as local modifications of one species, which from the extent of its range must 

 necessarily display a considerable amount of variation. These remarks will 

 apply with equal force to the case of the coyote, which comes later on in this 

 chapter. 



Apparently the largest known specimen of this animal was one killed in 



a 



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■ 



^*T — i ■ - ii ■ — 



rr.MA, 



Texas in 1846, which had a total length of over 8 feet, with a tail of about 

 3 feet. The puma is a slender animal with a long body and short legs. In colour 

 it is a uniform reddish or brownish grey above and whitish below, with an 

 indistinct dark line running along the back, and the tail ending in a dark brown 

 tip, while the black outer sides of the ears are marked by a whitish spot in the 

 middle, and the white upper lip shows a black spot in front. It is distinguished 

 from other large cats by flesh-coloured nostrils, and is said in North America to 

 be redder in summer and greyer in winter : but some of the races are yellowish 



