106 BIG GAME FIELDS 



feet, and the weight, depending on the condition 

 of the animal, might be from 160 to 200 pounds, 

 and in some cases this may be exceeded, but I am 

 speaking of an average, full-grown animal. 



Felis onca has been divided into a number of 

 local forms, regarded by some as distinct species, 

 but I am of the opinion that they should be 

 ranked merely as sub-species. H. H. Smith and 

 others look upon the black jaguar of the Brazil- 

 ian highlands as a distinct species and one whose 

 range is different from that of the spotted ani- 

 mal. W. N. Lockington is one of several author- 

 ities who consider that there may be several true 

 species besides geographical varieties. After a 

 careful research I am convinced that the black 

 jaguar is but a melanoid of the true jaguar, just 

 as the black bears and leopards enjoy a decided 

 color variation, notwithstanding that in certain 

 sections those of a decidedly different color will 

 predominate. I find that, with few exceptions, 

 the world's supply of black leopards comes from 

 the vicinity of Singapore, yet they are merely a 

 color variation of the true leopard (Felis pardus) . 

 A spotted female jaguar has been known to pro- 

 duce at one time black and at another spotted 

 kittens. This would indicate that these varia- 

 tions are merely a caprice of nature. In many 



