398 



CARNIVORES. 



of a brown, tind nearly, if not cjuite, black hue are sometimes met with. Others, 

 again, may be nearly white ; and it is stated that albino pumas have been found 

 in the Alleghany- Mountains and New Mexico, but Mr. True, who has done so much 

 to advance our knowledge of the species, states that this is not authenticated. 

 Somewhat curiously, it does not appear that the pelage of the puma varies in the 



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THE PUMA (iV uat. size). 



length of the fur according to the tempei-ature of the regions it inhabits, the 

 animal being in this respect unlike the tiger. 



The colour of young puma cubs is very different from that of the adult, the fur 

 on the body and limbs being marked with large blackish-brown spots, while the 

 tail is ringed with the same colour. These spots and rings remain more or les.s 

 distinct till the cubs are about six months old, when they disappear to a greater 

 or smaller extent, although they can generally be traced till the animal is mature, 

 and may in some .instances, especially when the fur is viewed in certain lights, 

 continue through life. The presence of these spots in puma cubs is important, as 



