THE CONGUAR THE BLACK TIGER. 95 



and breeds its young. It feeds on young birds, and leaps with 

 great agility from tree to tree. 



THE CONGUAR 



Is a native of the continent of America, and is by some called 

 the American lion, although little resembling that animal. Its 

 head is small, and it has no mane: its predominant colour is a 

 lively red, mixed with black, especially on the upper parts of the 

 body, but the inferior parts are whitish : its legs are long, and its 

 claws white. It is about five feet in length from the muzzle to 

 the tail ; and its tail is about two feet long. 



It is found in many parts of North America, where its ferocity 

 seems to be subdued by the climate ; for it will fly from a dog, 

 and run up a tree for safety. It is common in Guiana. Brazil, 

 and Mexico ; and in those hot climates is fierce and ravenous in 

 the. extreme. It will swim rivers to attack cattle even in their 

 enclosures ; and is very destructive to hogs, as well as other do- 

 mestic animals. It is also a terrible enemy to the moose, and 

 other deer, and will even attack beasts of prey. It lies lurking 

 in the top of a tree, till some animal passes underneath, when it 

 drops down upon it, and never quits it till it has drank its blood. 

 The conguar, although so ferocious in its natural state, is, when 

 taken and tamed, almost as gentle as a domestic cat, allowing 

 itself to be caressed, and will even permit children to mount on 

 its back : it purs like a cat, and when angry, or oppressed with 

 hunger, sometimes howls dreadfully. 



THE BLACK TIGER 



Differs from the last described animal chiefly in its colour, 

 which is dusky, and in some of the species spotted with black. 

 The inferior parts of the body are of a palish cast, the upper lip 

 white, and covered with long whiskers. Above each eye it has 

 very long hairs, and at the corner of the mouth a black spot. 

 It grows to the size of a heifer of a year old, and has remarka- 

 ble strength in its limbs. 



M. de la Borde says, that these animals are excellent swim- 

 mers, and that they frequent the sea-shore, and eat the eggs de- 

 posited there by the turtles. They likewise destroy alligators, 

 lizards, and fish. In order to catch the alligators, they lie down 

 on their bellies at the edge of the river, and strike the water to 

 make a noise. The alligator then raises its head above water, 

 in expectation of its prey, but they dart their claws into its eyes, 

 and drag it on shore, where it falls a victim to the animal on 

 which it intended to feast ; like wicked men, who frequently fall 

 into the snares which they have laid for others, and draw upon 

 themselves those calamities which they designed to inflict. 



