4-()2 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITLSH GUIANA 



geographical distribution; but it must not be taken that the 

 locahties mentioned are tlie limits of such distribution in the 

 district. 



In the giant forest, about the upper Thewarikuru and 

 over the Kwaye to the Kanukus, there would appear to be 

 animals not yet listed, if the Indians' reports are reliable. 

 The accounts were gi\'en, in good faith, by old and tried 

 yakamanna thamu (hunters). They assert that seven large, 

 carnivorous animals, are to be found in this forest. Here 

 are the names, with a rough description. 



Emennu — Very large, black. (Probably the black 

 jaguar.) 



Wathamaiku — Large, dark, with light markings. 



Chirirume — Blackish with ruddy stripes and spots. 



Anuntume — Very large, ruddy, (puma). 



Prauva — Blackish, white on fore-shoulders. Called the 

 white tiger. 



Wairarima — Dark, takes to the water. 



Kaikuchi — Large, light color with black markings. 

 ( Spotted j aguar. ) 



Kaikuchi sometimes took one of our heifers, or a young 

 bull. Once, this jaguar came to within a hundred feet of our 

 house, on the outskirts of the village, and killed a heifer. 

 We heard a cry, and saw a stampede of calves, at night, and, 

 on the following morning, vultin*es circling overhead, or 

 perched, as sentinels, upon the low trees, told that there had 

 been a kill. In this instance, as in others, the prey had been 

 thrown on to its right side, and dragged to a depression, 

 under a bush. The drag was about thirty vards. A hollow 

 helps to hide from view, and a bush, or tree, affords a ready 

 means of taking top-dog position, should necessitj'^ arise. 

 Close scrutiny failed to trace anv wound other than the large 

 opening, over and behind the left shoulder, where the flesli 

 had been torn off, exposing two ribs. It was, probably, the 

 jaguar which had taken out the heart. Kaikuchi does not, 

 as I have proved, return to its kill. It would find scarcely 



