134 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 



in the Brazilian empire. During the voyage home, 

 it was in habits of intimacy with several dogs and 

 monkeys, none of which it ever attempted to injure, 

 nor did it even attempt to return the petty insults 

 which the latter sometimes offered ; but if an unfor- 

 tunate fowl or goat came within its reach, it was im- 

 mediately snapt up and slain. Since its arrival in 

 Edinburgh, it has not been indulged with living 

 prey ; and the only animals which have fallen victims 

 to its rapacity, were a mallard and cock-pheasant, 

 both of which approached inadvertently within the 

 circle of its spring, and were each killed by a blow 

 of its fore paw." 



We shall now endeavour to describe, from the 

 most authentic materials in our power, two or three 

 smaller South American cats, of which we regret to 

 say our knowledge is yet imperfect. The first we 

 shall notice is what appears to be the El Negro of 

 Azara, and we may perhaps be accused of giving our 

 representation upon too slender grounds, having not 

 seen the animal ourselves. It is taken from a sketch 

 and memoranda made from two specimens brought 

 to Greenock in an American vessel, and we always 

 hope, that in thus directing the attention to little 

 known animals, their history may be sooner eluci- 

 dated. Our next plate represents 



