444 On the Cnhs of Lions and of Pumas, 



line than those of the lateral row, which are about nine in 

 number on each side. Below the latter the spots form 

 roughly about three rows^ but their arrangement is not 

 obviously either vertical or longitudinal. On the shoulders 

 the spots tend to run into abbreviated transverse bars ; at 

 least, on to the root of the tail the median spinal stripe 

 extends. It expands along the tail into triangular blotches 

 constituting transverse bars, about eight in number ; the tip 

 of the tail is black. The legs are practically without spots. 



Broadly speaking, the pattern of the two specimens of 

 puma described above agrees with that of the examples 

 depicted in pi. ii. of Elliot's ' Monograph of the Felidse.' 



In the large size and small number of the spots, in their 

 solidity and definite arrangement in three rather widely 

 separated lines along the back, or, at least, along its lumbo- 

 sacral area, in the nature of the markings on the tail, on the 

 shoulders, and on the nape of the neck, when they persist 

 there, the pattern of the puma is quite different from that of 

 lions, leopards, jaguars, and ounces. On the evidence 

 supplied by the pattern, the puma cannot, I think, be regarded 

 as nearly related to any one of those species. Nor do I 

 know of any special point, apart from size, in which the 

 puma resembles the three spotted species just mentioned, 

 while practically the only likeness he presents to the lion is 

 the adult coloration, which must be set aside as a valueless 

 criterion of relationship. 



It is a very difficult matter to decide to which group of 

 species of the genus Felis the puma is really related. The 

 pattern is not like that of any existing form ; but in the 

 characters above enumerated, in which it differs from the 

 pattern of leopards and lions, it approaches the pattern of 

 several of the smaller species of the genus, species in which 

 the pattern is, in my opinion, of a more primitive type than 

 it is in the giants of the family. 



I can find nothing in the structure of the skulls opposed 

 to the view here put forward, that the puma cannot be 

 associated with the group comprising tigers, lions, jaguars, 

 leopards, and probably ounces, nor anything in disaccord 

 with the suggestion that its nearest allies must be sought 

 amongst some of the smaller species. Rather the contrary. 

 And I do not think the resemblance between pumas and 

 " domestic cats " in the ossification of the hyoidean suspen- 

 sorium and in the expression of friendly feeling by 

 ''purring" should be altogether lost sight of in future 

 discussions of the subject ^. 



* In lions, tigers, and leopards, according to Mivart, the suspensorium 

 is ligamentous. These species do not " purr.'' 



