Cuha of Lions and of Pumas. 44 1 



Another point in wliich tlie pattern of tlicse lion cubs 

 differs from the pattern of leopards, jaguars, and ounces, and 

 approaches that of tigers is the following. In the three 

 spotted species if the spots upon the spine show definite 

 arrangement that arrangement is decidedly longitudinally- 

 linear. It is always so, I believe, more or less upon the 

 sacral region, but less decidedly so on the lumbar and 

 thoracic areas. In tigers, on the contrary, the upper extre- 

 mities of the stripes almost invariably turn forwards on the 

 spine, and meeting from opposite sides in the middle line at 

 an angle form a series of A -shaped figures, a corresponding 

 shape being naturally assumed by the intervening spaces. 

 In the lion cub above described a similar pattern is quite 

 clearly indicated in certain places, the spine being crossed 

 from right to left by broad irregular A -shaped blotchy 

 stripes separated by narrower interspaces of a goldcn-tawny 

 hue. In tigers, of course, the interspaces are wider than 

 the stripes, the converse being true of the lion. This circum- 

 stance is quite in keeping with the theory that the narrow 

 stripes of the tiger resulted from the antero-posterior com- 

 pression of the broader rosette-stripes such as are seen in 

 young lions. 



On the tail and lower half of the thigh, as stated above, 

 the disposition of the spots in the lion cub also foreshadows 

 the stripes of these regions seen in tigei's, but not seen, or 

 not nearh^ so clearly seen, in leopards, jaguars, and ounces. 



Another truly tigrine feature is the presence of a white 

 patch over each eye. This is a feature in which the lion cub 

 differs not only from adult leopards, jaguars, and ounces, but 

 also from adult lions. 



If there is any truth in the above-stated assumption as to 

 the origin of the tiger's pattern and also in the claim that 

 the pattern of the lion cub is nearly intermediate in character 

 between that of the leopard and that of the tiger — and I can 

 see no strong argument against cither, — it appears to me to 

 be necessary to conclude that these three species of Felis are 

 nearly related forms, a conclusion by no means obvious when 

 the coloration of the adults alone is considered. It was 

 largely no doubt owing to the differences in the coloration of 

 the adults that each of these species has been referred to a 

 distinct subgenus of the genus Felis. 



I have elsewhere * pointed out that the prevalent belief in 

 near affinity between leopards and jaguars, so forcibly 

 suggested by their patterns, is confirmed by the resemblance 



* r. Z. ti. 1W7, p. 077 (Oct.). 

 Ann. (0 Mag. N. Hist. 8er. 7. Vol. xx. 29 



