1 88 A SPORTING PARADISE 



on any animal larger than a hare or a young 



Fg-" ' 



A story is told of a battle between an eagle 



and a wild cat. After a fierce struggle, in which 

 the eagle was so badly wounded that it could 

 not fly, the cat, scratched and pierced in many 

 places, and having had an eye entirely " gouged 

 out " in the combat, was found lying dead. 



The only animal answering the description of 

 wild cat mentioned by the trapper is the jaguar. 

 Texas and east of the Mississippi are the farthest 

 points in North America where this fierce brute 

 has been shot. This savage beast does indeed 

 exhibit the characteristics referred to. It will 

 remain for hours crouched down, with head 

 depressed, and still as death. But when some 

 luckless animal approaches its eyes seem to dilate, 

 its hair bristles up, its tail is gently waved back- 

 wards and forwards, and all its powerful limbs 

 appear to quiver with excitement. The un- 

 suspicious creature draws near ; suddenly, with a 

 tremendous leap, the jaguar pounces on it, and 

 with the fury of an incarnate fiend fastens upon 

 the neck with its terrible teeth, whilst its formid- 

 able claws are struck deep into the back and 

 flanks. The poor victim writhes and plunges 



