THE FELIN^E. 73 



by a succession of leaps, or by one immense bound, 

 seldom fails in reaching the object. Or if tbe crea- 

 ture has to be approached, the assailant becomes 

 flattened, as it were, and, crouching, advances swift- 

 ly but imperceptibly ; the velvety-feeling pads of 

 the toes touch the ground without noise ; the eyes, 

 gleaming on the prey, see no obstruction, but the 

 slightest hinderance is told by the sensitive whiskers. 

 The measured distance is gained, and the muscles of 

 the animal are braced for the fatal spring ; a roar or 

 yell thrills through the victim, and overpowers its fa- 

 culties ; an instinctive terror renders strength or swift- 

 ness of foot equally unavailing, and it is borne off 

 felled and unresisting to some neighbouring thicket, 

 where it can be devoured in quiet. 



Some species follow their prey into the trees, as 

 the leopard and jaguar, and seize the monkeys and 

 larger birds, after they have gone to rest for the 

 night. Sometimes, says Humboldt, the cry of the 

 jaguar comes from the tops of the trees, followed by 

 the long and sharp whistling of the monkeys, which 

 appear to flee from the danger which threatened 

 them * ; and this manner of hunting is also pursued 

 by most of the smaller cats, which vary the size of 

 their prey, according to their strength to seize it. 

 The cougar, again, is said to lie in wait upon a 

 branch, or projecting rock overhanging the path, and 

 to drop upon the passing animals ; the fangs and claws 



* Pers. Nar See variety of prey which is sought by the 



jaguar in the description of that animaL 



