THE MAMMALS OF FLORIDA. 
Famity FELID. Tue,Cars. 
FELIS CONCOLOR FLORIDANA.: ‘Suds. Nov. 
Panther, Cougar, Puma. 
Nor uncommon in the unsettled portions of the State. 
The Florida Panther is apparently separable, at least, subspe- 
cifically, from its more Northern congener, which it resembles in 
general marking, but differs in being more rufous or reddish brown 
in color, and in having the legs relatively longer and the feet de- 
cidedly smaller. 
A most noticeable character in the Florida animal is the small 
size of the foot. Several Northern examples which I have exam- 
ined have the foot at least four inches broad, while those of a 
Florida specimen of equal size would not exceed three inches. 
A female which I killed in April, 1895, measured about seven 
feet from nose to tip of tail, and her forefoot measured two and 
seven eighths inches in width. In a Colorado specimen of about the 
‘same length the foot measured four and one eighth inches at the 
widest part, and another specimen three and seven eighths inches. * 
It is rare that a Florida Panther exceeds nine feet in length, 
although it is claimed that they occasionally grow larger. Both 
Maynard and Chapman mention hearing of a large, spotted, long- 
tailed cat, and suggest the possibility that it might be Fel/s onca. 
I have never met with an Indian who had seen or heard of such an 
animal. There is, however, an animal still living (or he was in 
April, 1895,) in Florida, whose tracks are at least a third larger 
than any Florida Panther I have ever seen. 
However, if he is ever killed (and I hope to sometime see his 
* A young Panther cub is tawny brown in color, marked with numerous large, irregular, brownish-black spots. 
‘The cry of the cub resembles the screech of a Parrot, but it often utters a soft whistle. The cry of the old 
Panther somewhat res2mbles the screech of a Parrot, but is much louder. 
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