422 THE STORY OF THE JAGUAR. 



This was an unusual case, for the jaguar wiU not attack human beings 

 except when he has been provoked or suffering the pangs of extreme 

 hunger. It often happens that the islands which they usually inhabit be- 

 come flooded, and they are forced to go to the mainland to appease their 

 hunger. At such times there is no more dangerous or desperate brute in 

 the whole animal creation. 



The size of the jaguar makes it a formidable enemy, for it is the largest 

 representative of the cat family inhabiting the New World, being somewhat 

 superior in size to the leopard, and having a relatively larger head. It 

 resembles the leopard in the ornamentation of the fur, taking the form of 

 large rosette-like dark spots, enclosing lighter centers; and likewise in the 

 circular form of the pupil of the eye. The spots are, however, considerably 

 larger than in the leopard, the ring of each being usually formed of a number 

 of small spots, while the light center of each rosette contains one or more 

 spots. Moreover, the rosettes are arranged in from seven to eight rows on 

 each side of the body. The ground color of the fur is a rich tan. 



The total average length of a full-grown male jaguar is about 6 feet 2 

 inches, the long bushy tail extending to 2 feet i inch, or about a third 

 the length over all. A large example had a total length of 6 feet 9 inches, 

 of which the tail occupied 2 feet 2 inches; while a still larger specimen is 

 said to have measured upwards of five feet from the tip of the nose to the 

 root of the tail. 



The range of the jaguar embraces the whole of the country lying be- 

 tween the north of Mexico and Texas and the northern parts of Patagonia, 

 its southern limit coinciding approximately with the 40th parallel of south 

 latitude. 



The jaguar is one of the most expert climbers among the larger cats, and 

 I have it that in certain districts of South America, where the forests are 

 subject to inundation, and the trees stand so thickly that the passage from 

 one to another is perfectly easy, the jaguar will sometimes take to a life in 

 the trees, preying upon the troops of monkeys that inhabit the forests. 

 There seems to be no record of its having attacked human beings without 

 provocation, except when nearly starrving. 



The mode of killing its prey is invariable. Leaping to the back of the 

 victim, the jaguar, by a rapid movement of the fore-paws, twists its head 

 round and breaks its neck. 



Its cry, which cannot be correctly described as a roar, is loud, deep, and 

 hoarse, and has been compared to a series of repetitions of the syllables, 

 pu, pu, pu. 



