50 'VERTEBRATES. 



dah. These hunts aie not carried on without considerable danger, 

 as in some cases the tiger has succeeded in reaching the howdah, 

 and more than one hunter has been known to overbalance himself 

 in his anxiety to get a shot at his game, and has fallen into the 

 very claws of the enraged brute. Once a wounded tiger sprang 

 at a badly trained elephant, who immediately turned round and 

 made off. The tiger succeeded in reaching the elephant's tail, 

 which it mangled dreadfully, but could climb no higher, partly on 

 account of its wounds, and partly through the exertions of a native, 

 who kept it back with a spear. The tiger. hung in this way. for 

 the greater part of a mile, when another hunter succeeded in over< 

 taking the terrified elephant, and with a single ball freed the poor 

 animal from its tormentor. 



The Cougar is extremely common an South America ; and, 

 where the towns border upon the foTHstj these animals make fre- 

 quent incursions by night 

 into the midst of the 

 streets, carrying off fowls, 

 dogs, and other domestic 

 creatures. They are, how- 

 ever, but weak and con- 

 temptible, being found un- 

 able to cope with a single 

 man. The Negroes and 

 Indians are very dexterous 

 in en sountering them ; and some, even for the sake of their skins, 

 geek them in their retreats. The arms in this combat, seemingly 

 so dangerous, are only a lance of two or three yards long, made of 

 heavy wood, with the point hardened in the fire; and a kind of 

 scymetar, of about three quarters of a yard in length. Thus 

 armed, they wait till the cougar makes an assault against the left 

 hand, which holds the lance, and is wrapped up in a short cloak 

 of baize. Sometimes the animal, aware of the danger, seems to 

 decline the combat; but then its antagonist provokes it with a 

 slight touch of the lance, in order, while he is defending himself, 

 to strike a sure blow. As soon, therefore, as the creature feels the 



Oongar. 



