270 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



needed, to repair damages. Wlien turned loose 

 in the yard in the day-time lie would at times 

 slap his tail twice or thrice on the brick pave- 

 ment, after which he elevated this member from 

 the ground, and walked about in an extremely 

 awkward manner. He fell ill soon after we had 

 received him, and when killed, was examined by 

 Dr. James Trudeau, who found that he would 

 shortly have died of an organic disease. 



It is stated by some authors that the beaver 

 feeds on fish. We doubt whether he possesses 

 this habit, as we on several occasions placed fish 

 before those we saw in captivity, and although 

 they were not very choice in their food, and 

 devoured any kind of vegetable, and even bread, 

 they in every case suffered fish to remain un- 

 touched in their cages. 



THE JAGUAR. 



Alike beautiful and ferocious, the jaguar is 

 of all American animals unquestionably the 

 most to be dreaded, on account of its combined 

 strength, activity, and courage, which not only 

 give it a vast physical power over other wild 

 creatures, but enable it frequently to destroy 

 man. 



Compared with this formidable beast, the 



