ioo Lloyd's natural history. 



without apparent effort for some seventy paces, re-entered the 

 river, and swam with the burden to the opposite bank. Azara 

 states that although he did not follow across the river, he saw 

 the marks where the Horse had been dragged down to the bank. 

 By night, especially during the breeding-season, the Jaguar's 

 roar is constantly to be heard, and it has been compared to the 

 syllables pu, pu, pu, very frequently repeated, and uttered in a 

 very deep and hoarse tone. The cubs are born about Decem- 

 ber, and vary from two to four in a litter, the percentage of 

 females being greater than that of males. The fur of the cubs 

 is longer and less smooth than that of the adults, with the 

 markings ill-defined. It is said that they will follow their dam 

 when only about a fortnight old, at which age they are about 

 the size of an ordinary Cat. When irritated, the cubs mew and 

 snarl like a Cat, wrinkling the forehead, opening the mouth, 

 and moving the tip of the tail slowly from side to side. Ac- 

 cording to Azara, a Jaguar never ascends a perpendicular tree- 

 trunk ; neither does he descend from those which are inclined 

 by a spring, but walks or runs down, in the same manner as he 

 ascended, like a Cat. 



In the wooded districts of Paraguay and the neighbouring 

 countries, Jaguars were formerly hunted with large packs of 

 Dogs, by whom they were generally driven up a tree, where 

 they could easily be shot. On the open pampas the animal is 

 more generally lassoed, the Gaucho who has first lassoed it 

 setting off at a gallop, and dragging the animal after him, until 

 a comrade can succeed in throwing another noose round the 

 hind-limbs, when the unfortunate creature is killed by the two 

 men pulling in opposite directions. 



When these animals were abundant on the Argentine pampas, 

 Mr. W. H. Hudson relates that at Saladillo, a " Gaucho had so 

 repeatedly distinguished himself by his boldness and dexterity 

 in killing Jaguars, that he was by general consent made the 



