60 Fretp Museum oF NaAtTuRAL History — Zoé.ocy, Vor. X. 
Empalado Savannas. Of their natural prey, the capybara is perhaps 
the favorite and they doubtless do not hesitate to pursue it into the 
water. A partly eaten carcass of one of the big rodents was found near 
our camp in the Empalado Savannas but the jaguar that had been 
frightened from it failed to return. 
Jaguars seem not only to have less distaste for water than most cats 
but even enter it and swim freely. In some of the mangrove swamps 
near Maracaibo their trails are frequently found leading to the edge of 
rather wide channels of water and out on the other side. According to 
report, two were killed in Lake Maracaibo not long ago while swimming 
from the mainland to Toas Island, a distance of more. than two miles. 
Felis pardalis subsp. Ocelot. 
Evidently not very common. Several poorly prepared skins 
offered for sale in Maracaibo were purchased for a few cents each. The 
enterprising venders, in the expectation of a higher price, insisted that 
these were the skins of young jaguars but after being convinced that 
we could not be fooled in this way, acknowledged their deception. 
An occasional track of an ocelot was seen near El Panorama and 
once I was so fortunate as to see one of the animals. This was in the 
full heat of midday and rather unexpected. It was surprised at a 
little pool of water among some large mangroves and bounded across 
in front of me scarcely 30 yards away, presenting a very attractive 
sight. ; 
Tracks of some small cat about the size of an ocelot were seen at 
high altitudes on Paramo de Tama. 
Local name Tigrillo. 
Felis concolor Linnzus. Cougar. 
According to report, cougars are not uncommon in certain districts 
near Maracaibo. They are seldom seen, however, and to successfully 
hunt them good dogs are necessary. One hunter living on the shore of 
the lake and almost directly opposite Maracaibo is reputed to have 
killed from twenty to thirty during the last fifteen years. Several 
hides in poor condition were seen in Maracaibo. 
Local name Leon or Leon bayo. 
Lutra sp, Otter. 
One hears but little of otters although it is probable they are generally 
distributed. A dressed hide was seen in Colon. 
