THE JAGUAR 127 



however, be so successful did it not trade upon the in- 

 quisitive and mischievous nature of the monkey race. They 

 seem positively fascinated by the presence of the Jaguar, 

 and cannot refrain from lingering in their flight or even 

 trying to slap the Jaguar on the nose as they fling them- 

 selves past it. The Jaguar, on its part, bides its time, and, 

 swift as is the spring of the monkey, the stroke of the savage 

 paw is swifter still, and the unfortunate monkey falls a victim 

 to its own vagaries. So swift, indeed, is the blow of the 

 Jaguar's paw that the animal will take its place at a shallow 

 bend of a river and scoop out the fish with its broad paws. 

 The peccary, capybara, and, in fact, any creature furred or 

 feathered, are all preyed upon by the Jaguar. 



The body of the Jaguar is extremely robust, the limbs 

 short, thick, and muscular ; the head large and square ; 

 and its whole contour lacks the supple gracefulness that is 

 so characteristic of its Old World cousin. It is the most 

 formidable of the American beasts of prey ; for though 

 it seldom ventures to attack man, especially if on his 

 guard, it unsparingly destroys horses, oxen, and other 

 domestic animals. The mode of killing its prey is in- 

 variably the same ; it leaps upon the back of its victim 

 and by a powerful movement of the forepaws twists the 

 head until the neck is broken. It is said that it attacks 

 and even conquers the alligator on land, but that in the 

 water the reptile gains the mastery. There appears never 

 to have been an eye-witness of any such encounter; but 

 a Jaguar has been surprised when making a meal off an 

 alligator. 



When floods drive the Jaguar from its favourite haunts 

 and it finds it difficult to secure animals upon which to sate 

 its ravenous appetite, it will attack man without scruple. 

 At St. Fe two priests were killed as they entered the church, 

 where a Jaguar was lying in wait behind the door ; and 

 more than one traveller can vouch for men having been 

 seized and carried off while sitting by a blazing camp-fire. 



In the settled regions the Jaguar is allowed but little 

 scope for depredation. No sooner is evidence given of 

 its presence in a district than a hunting party is arranged 

 by the planters and ranchers, and they do not rest satisfied 



