THE JAGUAR. 271 
cougar need hardly be dreaded more than the 
wild cat; and the grizzly bear, although often 
quite as ready to attack man, is inferior in swift- 
ness and stealthy coming. To the so much 
feared tiger of the Kast he is equal in fierceness; 
and it is owing, perhaps, to his being nocturnal 
in his habits to a great extent, that he seldom 
issues from the deep swamps or the almost im- 
penetrable thickets or jungles of thorny shrubs, 
vines, and tangled vegetation which compose the 
chaparals of Texas and Mexico, or the dense and 
untracked forests of Central and Southern Ame- 
rica, to attack man. From his haunts in such 
nearly unapproachable localities, the jaguar 
roams forth towards the close of the day, and 
during the hours of darkness seizes on his prey. 
During the whole night he is abroad, but is most 
frequently met with in moonlight and fine nights, 
disliking dark and rainy weather, although at 
the promptings of hunger he will draw near the 
camp of the traveller, or seek the almost wild 
horses or cattle of the ranchero even during day- 
light, with the coolest audacity. 
The jaguar has the cunning to resort to salt- 
licks, or the watering-places of the mustangs and 
other wild animals, where, concealing himself 
behind a bush, or mounting on to a low or slop- 
ing tree, he lies in wait until a favorable oppor. 
tunity presents itself for springing on his prey 
