96 VERTEBRATA. MAMMALIA. 



natives, one of which is unique and amusing. " The 

 track of a Tiger being ascertained, the peasants col- 

 lect a quantity of the leaves of the prous, which are 

 like those of the sycamore, and are common in most 

 underwoods. These leaves are smeared with a spe- 

 cies of bird-lime, and are then strewed with the 

 gluten uppermost, near to that opaque spot to which 

 it is understood the Tiger usually resorts during the 

 noontide heat. If, by chance, the animal should 

 tread on one of the smeared leaves, his fate may be 

 considered as decided. He commences by shaking 

 his paw, with the view to remove the adhesive in- 

 cumbrance, but finding no relief from that expedient 

 he rubs the nuisance against his jaw, with the same 

 intention, by which means his eyes, ears, &c., be- 

 come agglutinated, and occasion such uneasiness as 

 causes him to roll, perhaps among many more of the 

 smeared leaves, till at length he becomes completely 

 enveloped, and is deprived of sight ; in which situ- 

 ation he may be compared to a man who has been 

 tarred and feathered. The anxiety produced by this 

 strange and novel predicament, soon discovers itself 

 in dreadful howiings, which serve to call the watch- 

 ful peasants, who in this state find no difficulty in 

 shooting the object of their detestation."* 



Perhaps the largest and most powerful of all the 

 Cats, after the Tiger, (at least, of those distinctly 

 known,) is the Jaguar, (F. Onca) of South America, 

 It much resembles the Leopard in its markings, being 

 studded with roses of black spots, upon a yellowish 

 * Oriental Field Sports. 



