THE JAGUAR. 97 
Jaguar is commonly known as the Tiger (Zigré of the 
Spaniards). 
In Paraguay, writes Darwin, “‘ the wooded banks of the great 
rivers appear to be the favourite haunts of the Jaguar; but 
south of the Plata I was told that they frequented the reeds 
bordering the lakes: wherever they are, they seem to require 
water. Their common prey is the Capybara,* so that it is 
generally said, where Capybaras are numerous, there is little 
danger from the Jaguar. Falconer states that near the 
southern side of the mouth of the Plata there are many 
Jaguars, and they live chiefly on fish ; this account I have 
heard repeated. On the Parana they have killed many wood- 
cutters, and have even entered vessels at night. There is a 
man now living in the Bajada, who, coming up from below 
when it was dark, was seized on the deck; he escaped, how- 
ever, with the loss of the use of one arm. When the floods 
drive these animals from the islands, they are most dangerous. 
I was told that a few years since a very large one found its way 
into a church at Santa Fé, two padres entering one after 
another were killed, and a third, who came to see what was 
the matter, escaped with difficulty. The beast was destroyed 
by being shot from a corner of the building, which was un- 
roofed. They commit also, at these times, great ravages 
among cattle and horses. It is said that they kill their prey 
by breaking their necks. If driven from the carcase, they 
seldom return to it. The Gauchos say that the Jaguar, when 
wandering about at night, is much tormented by the Foxes yelp- 
ing as they follow him. . . . The Jaguarisa noisy animal, 
roaring much by night, and especially before bad weather.” 
In Uruguay trunks of trees were observed by the same 
traveller to be marked with scorings made by the claws of 
* An aquatic Rodent, the largest living representative of its Order, and 
the sole member of the genus Hydrocherus. 
7 H 
