612 Original Articles. [Oct., 



divided into two sections : first, the striped and spotted Cats, Leaded 

 by the Jaguar (Fells onca) ; and secondly, the uniformly-coloured 

 species, of which the best-known example is the Puma (Felis concolor). 

 The Jaguar is the largest and finest species of the Cat-group in the 

 New World, and indeed yields only to the Tiger and Lion of the 

 whole Feline family in strength and power. Besides the conspicuous 

 differences of its markings, it is distinguishable from the Leopards of 

 the Old World by its thick and compact form. The Jaguar has a 

 wide range in America. In La Plata it is found in the eastern region, 

 in trie woods along the banks of the larger rivers. Throughout Brazil 

 and Guiana it is also generally distributed, and according to Tschudi is 

 met with in both the eastern and western Peru. It extends throughout 

 Central America and Mexico, and into the United States as far north 

 as the Eed Eiver of Louisiana.* In the grassy Llanos of Venezuela 

 the Jaguar is said to be very abundant, the introduction of European 

 cattle and horses having enabled these large beasts of prey to find 

 subsistence in a region where, in its original state, they would have 

 found much difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply. The other 

 South American Cats belonging to the " striped and spotted " section 

 are mostly of comparatively small size. In the Pampas of La Plata 

 the long-haired Felis payeros is the characteristic species, and extends 

 all over the great plains which compose the eastern portion of this 

 part of South America, going nearly as far south, according to Mr. 

 Darwin, as the Straits of Magellan. In the coast-forests of South- 

 eastern Brazil, Felis mitis and F. macrura occur ; in the great Amazon 

 valley, F. tigrina, F. celidogaster, and F. pardalis are met with. The 

 latter species, under the form of one or more of several barely-dis- 

 tinguishable varieties, ranges all through Central America and Mexico 

 into Texas. The uniforruly-coloured Cats, which are further distin- 

 guished by the round pupil of the eye, are headed by the Puma, or 

 " American Lion," as it is often called. The Puma has a still more 

 extensive range in America than the Jaguar, or perhaps than any 

 other species of Mammal. From Chili and Patagonia on the south, 

 it appeal's to be distributed all over the southern and northern 

 continents up to 50° or 60° N.L., thus presenting us with a range of 

 some 110° of latitude. The Eyra (Felis eyrd) and the Jaguarundi 

 (Felis yagouaroundi), which belong likewise to the unspotted section, 

 seem to accompany the Puma in its wanderings to a certain distance, 

 being included by Burmeister among the Mammals of South-eastern 

 Brazil, and by Baird amongst those of Texas. They are, therefore, 

 doubtless also found in intermediate localities, although their exact 

 range has not been yet well worked out. 



So much for the Felidas of South America. We must now say a 

 few words about the Canida3 of the same country, which comprehend 

 two well-marked types, Icticyon and Canis. Of these Icticyon em- 



* Dr. Gray has described the Mexican Jaguar as distinct {Leopardus hernan- 

 dezi, ' Proc. Zool. Soc.,' 1857, p. 278, pi. 58), but as a separate species I think it 

 requires confirmation, being based merely on differences of coloration, which in 

 the whole Feline group is very variable. 



