THE JAGUAR 43 



America. Of yellow-and-black cats it stands next in size to 

 the tiger, but in form it is not so finely proportioned as the 

 leopard. It is of massive build, throughout, and its head is 

 very large for the height and length of the animal. Its tail, 

 however, is disproportionately short. 



This creature has a golden-yellow coat, marked on the 

 back and sides by large, irregular hollow islands of black, 

 called rosettes — quite different from the smaller and more 

 solid black spots of the leopard. Between these rosettes run 

 the narrow lines of yellow ground-color, like the streets of an 

 oriental city on a map. The legs, head, and under-parts are 

 marked with solid black spots. An animal of this species can 

 always be recognized by its large rosettes, large head, heavy build, 

 and short tail. 



The Jaguar, which in Mexico and South America is called 

 "el Tigre" (tee'gre), is found as far north as southern Texas, 

 and from that region southward to the limit of tropical forests 

 in South America. A female specimen which once lived in 

 the New York Zoological Park measured 48 inches in length 

 of head and body, its tail was 20 inches long, it stood 24 

 inches high at the shoulders, and weighed 120 pounds. 



In killing pigs, cattle, horses, deer, and other wild animals, 

 the Jaguar is a fierce, powerful, and dangerous beast; but, 

 like all other wild creatures, it is afraid of man. 



It is my belief that the strength of the jaws of the Jaguar 

 is greater in proportion to its size than that of any other 

 member of the Cat Family. Of this power we once witnessed 

 in the Zoological Park a tragic illustration. A full-grown 

 female Jaguar was purchased as a cage mate for a large and 



