MAMMALS. 



7 



!^" '- 



are marked with full black blotches, smaller on the top of the head, sides of neck and shoulders ; 

 larger on the outside of the legs ; largest on the belly and inside of legs. The top of the 

 muzzle is unspotted brownish yellow. Just back of the shoulders on the dorsal line are one or 

 two large blotches, with central light spaces ; beyond this, and extending to the tail, is a 

 vertebral series of elongated blotches, more or less confluent, and in contact, and with little or 

 no trace of lighter centres. On each side of this line, the sides of the body are seen to be 

 occupied by several series of large angulated blotches ; the exterior black, and more or less 

 interrupted, inclosing an area of the ground color, with from one to four spots of black. No 

 difference of color between the centres of these blotches and the intervals between adjacent ones 

 is discernible, as in the ocelot. There may be traced from three to five series of these blotches 

 on each side of the vertebral line, and thej may be made out to occupy the meshes of an 

 irregular reticulation of ground color, and are sometimes alternate, sometimes opposite. The 

 tail is marked with elongated blotches on a yellow ground ; towards the tip^ however, it assumes 

 the appearance of being black, with transverse light bars. The convexity of the ear is black, 

 with a white blotch. 



The Brazilian specimen is much the same with that above described, except that it is 

 considerably larger, and with more red in the ground color. 



This species differs in the pattern of coloration from the ocelot, in being without the lines or 

 stripes on the head, upper surface of neck and limbs, these portions being provided with small 

 simple blotches, occasionally elongated. The anterior half of the tail is irregularly blotched, 

 the posterior half only being like the entire tail of the ocelot, black when viewed from above, 

 with transverse light bands. The sets of spots are more regular and distinct, and less elongated 

 than in the ocelot ; the intervals between the sets of blotches are of the same color with the 

 centres of the latter, instead of being lighter. 



This species is found through the greater part of eastern Texas, extending as far as Red 

 river. It is quite probable that specimens have been killed within the limits of Louisiana, as 



(where it is abundant) 



at present constituted. Southward it ranges through Brazil 

 as far south as the Eio Negro. 



** This large cat, so common in southwestern Texas, especially along the lower Rio Grande, is rarely seen so far north as E' 

 Paso del Norte. The only individual observed by our party west of the latter place was seen in the Sierra Madre, near the 

 Guadaloupe canon. However, we were assured by many persons of Santa Cruz that it was very common near that village, in 

 the valley of the river of the same name." — (Kennerly.) 



Jaguavy tiger f leopard of the Texans ; tutinquille, of the .Apaches ; Hgre, of the Mexicans. 



This powerful rival of the puma equals the latter in size and muscular strength and elasticity in the use of its limbs. The habits 

 of both coincide almost entirely, perhaps with the exception that the jaguar confines itself rather to more covered regions, 

 preferring the impenetrable thickets in the river bottoms. Here he lies in wait for his prey, especially on the watering places 

 of mustangs wild cattle, and deer. Its less extensive geographical distribution, however, gives the jaguar a minor importance 



when compared with the puma. 



As far as my knowledge extends, the head of the Rio Bravo, with the surrounding country, is the northern limit of tb 

 jaguar. Tiie westernmost specimen of the genus was seen in the Guadaloupe canon (Sierra Madre) by Mr. J. Weyss, one 



of the assistants of this commission. 



Many stories about the ferocity of this animal are told among the inhabitants of the western regions, but none substantiating 

 the fact that a jaguar unprovoked will attack man. In the annals of the convent of San Francisco, in Santa Fe, a bloody 

 occurrence is recorded which contains some indications of the jaguar's nature. 



The following is an abridged translation from the Spanish : 



*' On April 10, 1825, a lay brother, after having made confession and concluded his prayers, entered the sacristy. There he 

 was terror-stricken on opening the door and seeing himself almost face to face with a jaguar (tigrc) of very extraordinary mze^ 



