THE JAGUAR. 305 



animal and dislocates the neck. Though the march of the 

 jaguar is not very swift, and he is unable to carry such a 

 load, either in the teeth or across the shoulders, as the tiger, 

 yet he can drag the carcass of a horse for a considerable dis- 

 tance, and even swim with it across a river. 



The strength and the predatory disposition of the jaguar 

 make him a subject of great dislike in a country where wild 

 cattle form a considerable portion of the wealth of the inha- 

 bitants, and therefore, among the settlers in the vicinity of his 

 haunts, the hunting of him becomes an object of advantage, 

 as well as of glory. This is usually done by dogs not that 

 they can master this powerful animal, or in going in upon 

 him to make the attempt ; but he is not so staunch as the 

 lion, and especially the tiger, for the dogs put him to flight, 

 from which he does not rally so as to act an offensive part. 

 He is not habitually a climber ; but if there be a sloping tree 

 within reach, he mounts into that, and is dispatched by spears 

 or musket-shot, according as he is better situated for the one 

 or the other. Some of the native tribes, too, are expert at 

 dispatching him with their arrows, prepared with wourali 

 poison, and delivered from the bow or blown from a tube. 

 When he takes refuge in a hole of the earth, he is either 

 worked out, or the Indians tempt him with one hand wrapped 

 in a skin, while they spear him with the other ; but this is an 

 exploit which requires great courage and presence of mind. 

 As is the case with the lion in Southern Africa, and the tiger 

 in most parts of India, the jaguar is now nearly exterminated 

 from all parts of South America. 



