108 BIG GAME FIELDS 



are linked and joined together by means of the 

 bush-rope, a vine peculiar to South America and 

 growing sometimes to the thickness of a man's 

 body. Frequently the jaguar is forced to take 

 to arboreal life during the rainy season, or floods, 

 and, as may be expected, climbs well among the 

 trees and branches. Here, instead of his retreat 

 being a rocky cavern which he uses as a lair, in 

 one place, he "lays up" upon a huge branch 

 where the thick, gnarled foliage shuts out the 

 sizzling sun, and here he can doze quietly through 

 the long, sweltering hours of the day. The pupil 

 of the jaguar is circular and is not adapted to 

 excess light. Like all the felidce, the jaguar is 

 nocturnal and prowls stealthily at about sunset 

 and throughout the night in search of prey. Oc- 

 casionally, however, they are abroad by day, but 

 this is not their custom. 



The jaguar, leaving his lair shortly after sun- 

 set for his night-long prowl, frequently begins to 

 roar like a lion, and again, like his majesty, con- 

 tinues at intervals until he actually begins to 

 hunt. Jaguars are usually noisy animals, espe- 

 cially during the pairing season and upon stormy 

 nights, when their deep, grating roar vibrates 

 through the forest, in tones conveying the im- 

 pression of great power. There is a widespread 



