462 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITISH GUIANA 



geographical distribution; but it must not be taken that the 

 localities mentioned are the limits of such distribution in the 

 district. 



In the giant forest, about the upper Thewarikuru and 

 over the Kwaye to the Kanukus, there would appear to be 

 animals not yet listed, if the Indians' reports are reliable. 

 The accounts were given, in good faith, by old and tried 

 yakamanna thamu (hunters) . They assert that seven large, 

 carnivorous animals, are to be found in this forest. Here 

 are the names, with a rough description. 



Emennu Very large, black. (Probably the black 

 jaguar.) 



Wathamaiku Large, dark, with light markings. 



Chirirume Blackish with ruddy stripes and spots. 



Anuntume Very large, ruddy, (puma). 



Prauya Blackish, white on fore-shoulders. Called the 

 white tiger. 



Wairarima Dark, takes to the water. 



Kaikuchi Large, light color with black markings. 

 (Spotted jaguar.) 



Kaikuchi sometimes took one of our heifers, or a young 

 bull. Once, this jaguar came to within a hundred feet of our 

 house, on the outskirts of the village, and killed a heifer. 

 We heard a cry, and saw a stampede of calves, at night, and, 

 on the following morning, vultures circling overhead, or 

 perched, as sentinels, upon the low trees, told that there had 

 been a kill. In this instance, as in others, the prey had been 

 thrown on to its right side, and dragged to a depression, 

 under a bush. The drag was about thirty yards. A hollow 

 helps to hide from view, and a bush, or tree, affords a ready 

 means of taking top-dog position, should necessity arise. 

 Close scrutiny failed to trace any wound other than the large 

 opening, over and behind the left shoulder, where the flesh 

 had been torn off, exposing two ribs. It was, probably, the 

 jaguar which had taken out the heart. Kaikuchi does not, 

 as I have proved, return to its kill. It would find scarcely 



