JAGUAR. 73 



without effect; for in a few minutes Mr. Munro joined 

 them, all over blood; and, after staggering some paces, 

 feli. They immediately procured medical assistance ; but 

 the unhappy victim had his skull so fractured by the teeth 

 of the monster, and his neck and shoulders were so 

 torn by its claws, that he survived only a short time. 

 The human mind can scarcely picture to itself a more 

 frightful scene. This tiger was about four feet and a half 

 high, and nine feet long ; his head appeared as large 

 as that of an ox ; his eyes darted fire ; and his roar, when 

 he made the fatal spring, was tremendous beyond de- 

 scription. 



Fierce and powerful as this animal is, hunting him is a 

 favourite diversion with some of the eastern princes. His 

 skin is reckoned of great value ; and all over the East, and 

 particularly in China, it is usual for the seats of justice to 

 be covered with it. The cougar, or red tiger of America, 

 is a diminutive animal when compared with the tiger of the 

 East. 



THE JAGUAR. 



Many different authors, who have written on the subject 

 of the New World, make mention of this animal in their 

 descriptions ; by some it is called a tiger, by others a 

 leopard, while in South America it is commonly known 

 by the appellation of the puma. It is certainly the most 

 formidable animal that has yet been found in the western 

 hemisphere, and lives solely on prey ; but, when compared 

 with the tiger for strength and resolution, its powers ap- 

 pear very much inferior. 



The jaguar is of a bright tawny colour. The top ot 

 the back is marked with long black stripes; and the 

 sides are impressed with irregular oblong spots, open in 

 the middle, which is of the ground colour of the hair. 

 The thighs and legs are marked with full black spots, and 

 the belly and breast are whitish. 



