I -70 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS : ZOOLOGY. 



In color the type o{ patagonica is very much darker — more varied with 

 black-tipped hairs on the median dorsal area — than the gray phase of 

 peaysoui (in summer-coat), while patagonica is in much fuller (probably 

 winter) pelage. On the other hand, pearsoni is much more strongly 

 suffused with fulvous throughout, while the ventral surface is strongly yel- 

 lowish instead of nearly clear white as in patagonica. There is little 

 difference in the distinctness of the dusky ear-markings in the two forms. 

 In general terms, patagonica is darker above than the gray phase oi pear- 

 soni, and lighter below, and almost wholly lacks the strong fulvous suf- 

 fusion that forms so strong a feature in even the light phase of pearsoni. 

 With the "red " phase o{ pearsoni the contrast is so great that no compari- 

 son is necessary, though in all probability, as shown by Mr. Hatcher's 

 observations, there is also a " red " phase oi patagonica. 



Finally, in view of the strong differences in dentition between \.\it pnma 

 group and pearsoni, especially through the practical suppression of the 

 deuteroconc in pi of pearsoni and its strong development in patagonica, 

 I prefer for the present, or till more material is available for examination, 

 to regard pearsoni as specifically distinct from both Pnnia concolor and 

 Puma puma. 



Mr. Hatcher describes the capture of the type specimen of Puma puma 

 patagonica, and gives welcome information regarding its habits. He says : 



"After some two weeks spent in the vicinity of Lake Pueyrredon, we 

 decided to return to the coast. Messrs. Peterson and Brown, with the 

 wagon and outfit, returned by the route by which we had come, while I 

 parted company with them a short distance east of Lake Pueyrredon, and 

 with pack-mule and saddle-horse started off to the south to explore the 

 country lying between the lake and the headwaters of the Rios Belgrano 

 and Chico. On the day previous to our separating, while ascending 

 one of the lower benches of the bluff, that rises above the valley extend- 

 ing east of the lake, I observed a mountain lion that had been fright- 

 ened from its place of concealment and went galloping up the bluff and 

 across the narrow plain at the top. As the country was an open one 

 and I was mounted on a good horse, this seemed an excellent oppor- 

 tunity and I was not slow in giving chase. Although the animal had 

 several hundred yards the start of me, I rapidly gained on him, and when 

 he reached the head of a small canon at the opposite side of the narrow 

 table I w^as not more than one hundred yards in the rear. On reaching 



