68 



THE JAGUAR. 



The Jaguar {Leopardus onca). 



sleeping. Sometimes it is fortunate enough to get among a little band 

 of monkeys before they are aware of the presence of the dreaded fere, 



and then seizes the 



opportunity of deal- 

 ing a few fierce 

 strokes of its terrible 

 paw among the part- 

 ly-awakened sleepers, 

 thus dashing them to 

 the ground, whither it 

 descends to feast at 

 leisure on the ample 

 repast. 



Of turtles and their 

 eggs the Jaguar is 

 particularly fond, and 

 displays great ingen- 

 uity and strength in 

 the securing, killing and eating them. Watching the turtle as she walks 

 riverward or seaward, as the case may be, after depositing her eggs under 

 a slightcovering of earth, there to be warmed into being by the genial rays 

 of the sun, the Jaguar springs upon her, and with a quick and adroit move- 

 ment of the paws turns the turtle on its back. There the poor reptile lies, 

 helpless, and waiting until its captor is pleased to consummate his work 

 by killing and eating the animal which he has thus ingeniously inter- 

 cepted. Tearing away as much as possible of the softer parts that lie by 

 the tail, the Jaguar inserts his supple paw, armed with its sharp talons, 

 and scoops out, as neatly as if cut by knives, the flesh together with the 

 vital organs of the devoted chelonian. 



Few animals have been known by such a variety of names as the 

 Puma of America. Travellers have indifferently entitled it the 

 American Lion, the Panther, the Cougar, the Carcajou (which is an 

 entirely different animal), the Gouazoura,. the Cuguacurana, and many 

 other names. 



It is rather a large animal, but, on account of its small head, appears 

 to be a less powerful creature than really is the case. The total length 

 of the Puma is about six feet and a half, of which the tail occupies 

 rather more than two feet. The tip of the tail is black, but is desti- 

 tute of the long tuft of black hair which is so characteristic of the 

 Lion. 



The color of the Puma is a uniform light tawny tint, deeper in some 

 individuals than in others, and fading into a grayish white on the under 

 parts. It is remarkable that the young Puma displays a gradual 

 change in its fur, nearly in the same way as has been narrated of the 



