THE JAGUAR. 213 



The Jaguar is generally hunted with dogs, which run 

 him to bay, or make him take refuge in a tree, where he 

 is kept till the coming up of the hunters, who shoot him, 

 or disable him with their long spears. He is also said to be 

 hunted singly, the huntsman having his left arm defended 

 by a sheep's skin, on which he receives the animal's 

 spring, and stabs him with a spear, about five feet in 

 length. 



Jaguars are occasionally met with having the ground 

 color of the skin of a very deep brown tinge, almost ap- 

 proaching to black ; on these the markings are of a still 

 deeper shade. This variety is rare, and has never been 

 well or characteristically figured. Azara has also men- 

 tioned a white variety, with the rings appearing darker in 

 particular lights. This seems to be still more rare. 



