328 Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 



structure diverges, and might warrant us to adopt them, in addition 

 to the difference in spotting and colouring, as specific characters. I 

 have had but little opportunity to extend my investigations to any- 

 thing further than to the observations which a skin, sometimes muti- 

 lated, afforded ; but it is evident that Guiana possesses two very di- 

 stinct forms, of which the Jaguar {Felis onca) and the Puma {Felis 

 concolor) offer the typical forms. The jaguar is the strongest, and most 

 powerful of the Felince, and to what astonishing size it reaches, may 

 be concluded from the circumstance, that Mr. Vieth found during 

 our last expedition, on a savannah on the banks of the river Padauiri, 

 a tributary to the Rio Negro, a skeleton of a tiger which measured 

 nine feet. It had been much mutilated by the vultures, but Mr. 

 Vieth carried the skull, which was perfect, and which is now among 

 my collections. The spotted kinds all bear a striking resemblance 

 to each other : their heads are broad, the fore quarters remarkably 

 strong and full of muscles ; the chest broad, and their tails shorter 

 in proportion than those of the spotless cats. Not less remarkable 

 is the likeness of the unspotted species ; their heads are small, the 

 neck nearly the same thickness, the fore legs very strong and power- 

 ful, the hind legs taller in proportion, and the tail long, furry, and 

 brush-like. These two forms are evident to every common ob- 

 server, but it will want more knowledge of their anatomical struc- 

 ture to form the subordinate sections. In their habits they are all 

 voracious, and prey upon animals much larger than themselves. 

 They hunt chiefly by night, but when pressed by hunger destroy and 

 carry away their prey in the open day. The larger species of the 

 spotted kind are all excellent swimmers, and cross over rivers, or visit 

 the islands where the Capybaras are generally found, and which 

 seldom escape the fatal bound. Although there are several in- 

 stances, yet comparatively speaking they seldom attack man ; but 

 they do not seem to fear him, as they enter the huts of Indians, and 

 carry away their dogs, while they leave their owners undisturbed 

 in their hammocks. Their claws are the chief instruments of attack 

 and defence, and they are for that purpose strongly hooked, and 

 capable of being retracted whilst not in use. Their canine teeth are 

 strong, two in each jaw, cutting teeth small, and grinders shaped 

 like an arrow-head. 



