JAGUAR 



The Cougar is active throughout the year and does not den 

 up in the winter. The home den is usually in a cave or 

 fissure in the rocks, but, if these are not available, it may be in 

 dense vegetation. The young are usually two in a litter, 

 but the number varies from one to five. They are generally 

 born in late winter or early spring, but may be born in any 

 month of the year. 



Jaguar. — Felis hernandesii (Gray) 



Names. — Jaguar; Tiger; American Leopard. Plate XV. 



General Description. — Largest of the North American 

 Felidas; color pattern spotted. Head and body much heavier 

 and stronger than in the Cougar; limbs comparatively short 

 and powerful; tail of moderate length, thick. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; individual variation very great. 



General pattern of upperparts a ground color of rich buffy 

 yellow or tawny marked with black spots or rosettes; under- 

 parts whitish spotted with black; spots of varying sizes and 

 in some places, the back, chest, and legs, they fuse to form 

 short bars; rosettes along back and sides formed of rings 

 which generally enclose one or more small spots; tail heavily 

 marked with black, especially near tip. 



Measurements. — Males larger than females. Males, total 

 length, 79 inches; tail vertebras, 21 inches; hind foot, 10 inches; 

 height at shoulder, 28 inches; weight about 200 pounds. 



Geographical Distribution. — Found only in extreme south- 

 ern and southwestern states, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. 



Food. — Large and small mammals. Deer, Peccary, domestic 

 stock, wild Turkeys, and smaller game as it is encountered. 



Enemies. — None. 



******* 



Only the one variety of Jaguar is found north of the Rio 

 Grande. To the south this big, spotted Cat has a continuous 

 range to almost the southern end of South America. 



The Jaguar is so like the Old World Leopard in general 

 appearance that it is difficult to distinguish between skins 

 of the two animals. The presence of black spots inside the 

 rosettes usually marks the Jaguar, which is also a more power- 

 ful beast, more heavily built, than the Leopard, and has a 

 shorter tail. The Jaguar which reaches the United States is 



161 



