394 ^'^rnc of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



reed-beds bordering tbe numerous lagunas (lakes). Both in Uruguay iind 

 Paraguay these animals prey largely upon the great aquatic rodent the 

 carpincho, or capibara. Water is everywhere essential to their existence, 

 and they never wander far from its vicinity. On some parts of the Rio 

 de la Plata they are even said to capture fish, and on the Orinoco they 

 prey upon freshwater terrapins and their eggs. Occasionally, it is reported, 

 they attack and kill crocodiles and caimans ; and even the tapir is not safe 

 from them, many ot these animals showing the marks of the jaguar's claws 

 on their hides. Peccaries also form, in certain districts, no inconsiderable 

 portion ot the food ot the jaguar, although only solitary individuals are 

 attacked, a herd ot these small swine being a match even for the large 

 spotted cat. 



When driven from its " kill," the jaguar seldom returns to finish its 

 meal. At night, and more especially, it is said, during wet or stormy 

 weather, the jaguar is a noisy animal, making the forests resound with its 

 hoarse roar. As is the case with other large cats, the presence of jaguars 

 in a district is always indicated on the tree stems, the bark of which is 

 scored as high as the animals can reach. Jaguars, like pumas, are not 

 unfrequently carried down the large South American rivers on natural rafts, 

 or floating islands ; and since jaguars are still common in the forest districts 

 ot Tucuman and Cordova, a solitary individual, transported in this manner 

 down the Parana or La Plata River, may occasionally make its appearance 

 in parts ot Argentina or Uruguay where the species has long since 

 disappeared as an indigenous animal. 



Excellent accounts of the life-history of the jaguar are given by the 

 Spanish naturalist Azara, by Humboldt, by Darwin in a Ncitiird/isfs 

 Voyage roiau/ the JTor/J, and by Mr. W. H. Hudson in the NiiU/rd/ist in Ld 

 Plata. 



