<P> In his Histoire Naturelle (1749), French naturalist Georges - Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, wrote of the "Black Cougar": </P> <P> M. de la Borde, King's physician at Cayenne, informs me, that in the (South American) Continent there are three species of rapacious animals; that the first is the jaguar, which is called the tiger; that the second is the couguar (sic), called the red tiger, on account of the uniform redness of his hair; that the jaguar is of the size of a large bull - dog, and weighs about 200 pounds (90 kg); that the cougar is smaller, less dangerous, and not so frequent in the neighbourhood of Cayenne as the jaguar; and that both these animals take six years in acquiring their full growth . He adds, that there is a third species in these countries, called the black tiger, of which we have given a figure under the appellation of the black cougar . The head is pretty similar to that of the common cougar; but the animal has long black hair, and likewise a long tail, with strong whiskers . He weighs not much above forty pounds (18 kg). The female brings forth her young in the hollows of old trees . </P> <P> This "black cougar" was most likely a margay or ocelot, which are under 18 kg (40 lb) in weight, live in trees, and do have melanistic phases . </P> <P> Another description of a black cougar was provided by Thomas Pennant: </P>

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