98 BIG GAME FIELDS 



good points, and again we may read of the ani- 

 mal's disposition and savageness. But I think a 

 concise account covering the habits, range and 

 characteristics may prove of interest. 



The jaguar (Felis onca] is the largest of all 

 the spotted cats, being next in size to the tiger, 

 but second to none in fierceness. South of the 

 Rio Grande it is usually called "El Tigre" (pro- 

 nounced teagre), which is Spanish for tiger. 

 Though more essentially inter-tropical than most 

 of the large felines, its range at one time extend- 

 ed as far north and east as Arkansas, and James 

 Capen Adams, better known, perhaps, as "Griz- 

 zly Adams," states that in the year 1854, in the 

 mountains of Southern Colorado, he met a pair 

 of jaguars, followed by two cubs. He shot and 

 wounded the female, which finally escaped after 

 severely mauling his favorite dog, Rambler. 

 There is no doubt, however, that the jaguar 

 ranged as far north as latitude 37, but, like many 

 other of our large-game animals, has gradually 

 receded before the trend of civilization. Of late 

 years a few have been taken in Arizona, and in 

 1910 I learned of one being shot in Central West- 

 ern Texas. At the present writing there are still 

 a few jaguars within the borders of the United 

 States, but to meet with one is becoming a rare 



