ORDER CARNASS1ER. 457 



white, The black variety, however, is extremely rare. One 

 is also mentioned by Azara, perfectly white, with the spots 

 indicated by a more opaque appearance ; but this peculi- 

 arity was possibly the effect of albinism. 



The Jaguars are solitary animals, or are met with only 

 in pairs ; they inhabit thick forests, especially in the neigh- 

 bourhood of great rivers ; and if they be driven by their 

 wants to seek for sustenance in the cultivated country, they 

 generally do so by night. It is said they will stand in the 

 water, out of the stream, and drop their saliva, which, float- 

 ing on the surface, draws the fish after it within their 

 reach, when they seize them with the paw, and throw them 

 on shore for food. 



They will attack Cows, and even Bulls of four years old, 

 but Horses seem to be their favourite prey. They destroy 

 the larger animals by leaping on their back ; and placing 

 one paw on the head, and another on the muzzle, they con- 

 trive to break the neck of their victim in a moment. Hav- 

 ing thus deprived it of life, they will drag the carcass, by 

 means of their teeth, a very considerable distance, to their 

 retreat, from which their great strength may, in some mea- 

 sure, be estimated. 



The Jaguar is hunted with a number of Dogs, which, 

 although they have no chance of destroying it themselves, 

 drive the animal into a tree, provided it can find one a 

 little inclining, or else into some hole. In the first case, 

 the hunters kill it with fire-arms or lances ; and in the 

 second, some of the natives are occasionally found hardy 

 enough to approach it with the left arm covered with a 

 sheepskin, and to spear it with the other ; a temerity which 

 is frequently followed with fatal consequences to the hunter. 



The traveller, who is unfortunate enough to meet this 



formidable beast, especially if it be after sunset, has but 



' little time for consideration. Should it be urged to attack 



by the cravings of appetite, it is not any noise, or a fire- 



