1904.] Allen, Mammals from Santa Marta, Colombia. 445 



gestation. It appears that only one young is born at a time, 

 and probably the period of gestation is short. The flesh is 

 considered unfit for food, owing to its strong musky odor; 

 but this may be avoided by skinning and cleaning the animal 

 immediately after death. I knew a planter who often gave 

 his guests capivara meat for dinner, and they all liked it. It 

 is white, tender, and good." - H. H. S. 



37. Sylvilagus superciliaris Allen. Twenty-four speci- 

 mens, including young of various ages as well as adults, all 

 from Bonda. (See this Bulletin, XII, 1899, p. 196.) 



"RABBIT (called cone jo). Common in the dry- forest re- 

 gion, frequenting thickets and old clearings where the bushes 

 and grass give it cover. They are nocturnal, being seldom 

 seen during the day unless driven from their retreats; they 

 eat tender young leaves, buds, twigs, and roots, and perhaps 

 small fruits. I have never seen any rabbit burrows, and the 

 hunters aver that they do not make any, but bring forth their 

 young in sheltered places among the grass and bushes. Gen- 

 erally two or three young are found together. As far as I know, 

 rabbits do not range into the mountain forest." H. H. S. 



38. Felis concolor Linn. Not represented by specimens. 

 Mr. Brown obtained a specimen at Santa Marta and another 

 at Dibulla (Bangs, Proc. N. Engl. Zool. Club, I, 1900, p. 99). 



"PuMA (called lean). Found occasionally below 3000 

 feet, principally in the dry forest; I never heard of it in the 

 higher mountains, and it seems to be less common than the 

 jaguar. We did not secure a single specimen of either; this 

 was mainly ill-fortune, but it was partly due to the fact that 

 no good dogs could be obtained, and it is almost useless to 

 hunt large cats without them. 



"South American hunters rather despise the puma; they 

 consider it cowardly, and not to be compared with the jaguar 

 for fierceness, agility, or strength ; apparently it never attacks 

 a full-grown man unless it has been brought to bay. Like the 

 jaguar, it wanders at night and during the cool hours of the 

 day, remaining quiet in the afternoon. It is said to make its 

 den in rocky places, under a ledge; but I cannot attest this." 

 H. H. S. 



