NO. 5 MAMMALS OF PANAMA GOLDMAN 169 



scarcely seems entitled to a place in our faunal lists. Although 

 inhabiting the same region as the ocelots, the spotted cats of this 

 group are rather rare as evinced by the small number of speci- 

 mens that have found their way into collections. 



The specimen on which the species is based was brought to me by a 

 hunter who shot it in the forest near Cana. It had been dis- 

 emboweled and the hunter reported finding its stomach well filled 

 with undigested pieces of a large opossum, Didelphis marsupialis 

 etensis. 



Specimens examined: Cana, i (type). 



FELIS BANGSI COSTARICENSIS Merriam 



Central American Puma; Leon 



Felis bangsi costaricensis Merriam, Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., Vol. 3, 

 p. 596, December n, 1901. Type from Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama. 



Among American cats the pumas or mountain lions are second 

 only to the jaguars in point of size. They are easily distinguished by 

 large size, and the absence of body markings, except in very young 

 individuals. 



A number of forms have been described, but their relationships 

 are little known. Collectively they range from southern Patagonia 

 to southern Canada and ascend from sea level to the upper slopes 

 of high mountains. While the forms vary considerably in general 

 size and cranial details, no two appear to inhabit the same area and 

 many facts point to the probability that all are geographic races of 

 Felis concolor Linnaeus. The animal has figured prominently in 

 stories of adventure in many regions, but is much less dangerous than 

 is commonly believed. Some popular misconception in regard to it 

 is due to the various vernacular names, such as puma, cougar, panther 

 and mountain lion which are supposed by many to apply to distinct 

 species which may occur at the same localities. Throughout Middle 

 America the animal is generally known to the natives as " leon." 



The Central American puma is characterized by rather sm|ill size 

 and rich reddish coloration. It occurs here and there throughout 

 Panama, but is rarely seen. On the stock ranges of the savanna 

 region near the Pacific coast horses and calves are said to be attacked 

 and killed by pumas, but such incidents are apparently of rare occur- 

 rence. Like the jaguar the puma is said to follow the deer and 

 peccaries and is most likely to be found in localities where these 

 animals are abundant. 



The type of F. b. costaricensis was collected by W. W. Brown, Jr., 

 for Outram Bangs at 4,000 feet altitude near Boquete on the southern 



