THE JAGUAR. 271 



cougar need hardly be dreaded more than the 

 wild cat ; and the grizzly bear, although often 

 quite as ready to attack man, is inferior in swift- 

 ness and stealthy coming. To the so much 

 feared tiger of the East he is equal in fierceness : 

 and it is owing, perhaps, to his being nocturnal 

 in his habits to a great extent, that he seldom 

 issues from the deep swamps or the almost im- 

 penetrable thickets or jungles of thorny shrubs, 

 vines, and tangled vegetation which compose the 

 chaparals of Texas and Mexico, or the dense and 

 untracked forests of Central and Southern Ame- 

 rica, to attack man. From his haunts in such 

 nearly unapproachable localities, the jaguar 

 roams forth towards the close of the day, and 

 during the hours of darkness seizes on his prey. 

 During the whole night he is abroad, but is most 

 frequently met with in moonlight and fine nights, 

 disliking dark and rainy weather, although at 

 the promptings of hunger he will draw near the 

 camp of the traveller, or seek the almost wild 

 horses or cattle of the ranchero even during day- 

 light, with the coolest audacity. 



The jaguar has the cunning to resort to salt- 

 licks, or the watering-places of the mustangs and 

 other wild animals, where, concealing himself 

 behind a bush, or mounting on to a low or slop- 

 ing tree, he lies in wait until a favorable oppor- 

 tunity presents itself for springing on his prey. 



