Our friend Rick Lanman who continues to update his comprehensive and illuminating Wikipedia entry on the etymology of Pumas--click on the entry below

From: Richard Lanman <ricklanman@gmail.com
Date: Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 10:42 PM
Subject: Re: Updated etymology section of Puma concolor wikipedia page
To: Rick Meril <rick.meril@gmail.com
Happy for you to post the link. As you know I favor Puma over Cougarand my poll of some of the luminaries says that's where things areheaded, but mountain lion is misleading and about as useful as"catamount".

Best,
Rick

click here to read Rick's wilepedia entry on Pumas
 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cougar&pe=1&#Naming_and_etymology