HABITS OF THE JAGUAR. 45 



rushed at the door, growling and "swearing" like a very large and fierce Tom Cat. Even the 

 knowledge of the strong iron door between us and the Jaguar could not prevent us from starting 

 back, there was something so suggestive, in the beast's looks, of being torn to pieces and devoured. 



The Jaguar is found in North and South America, extending from the Southern regions of the 

 United States, through Mexico, Central America, and Brazil, as far south as Paraguay. Of its 

 habits, occurrence, &c., the following interesting account is given by Mr. Darwin :* 



" The wooded banks of the great rivers appear to be the favourite haunts of the Jaguar ; but 



south of the Plata, I was told that they frequented the reeds bordering lakes. Wherever they are, 

 they seem to require water. Their common prey is the Capybara, so that it is generally said, 

 where Capybaras are numerous there is little danger from the Jaguar. Falconer states that near 

 the southern side of the mouth of the Plata there are many Jaguars, and that they chiefly live 

 on fish. This account I have heard repeated. On the Parana they have killed many wood-cutters, 

 and have even entered vessels at night. There is a man now living in Bajada, who, coming 

 up from below when it was dark, was seized on the deck ; he escaped, however, with the loss of 

 the use of one arm. When the floods drive these animals from the islands, they are most 

 dangerous. I was told that, a few years since, a very large one found its way into a church at 

 Santa Fe : two padres entering one after the other were killed, and a third, who came to see what 

 was the matter, escaped with difficulty. The beast was destroyed by being shot from a corner of 

 the building, which was unroofed. They commit also at these times great ravages among Horses and 



* " Naturalist's Voyage." 



