OEDEE OF CAENIVOEA. 379 



its master ? It has been said that it is more attached to localities 

 than persons ; we know of numerous exceptions to this. 



The Cat possesses qualities which alienate it from all our sym- 

 pathies, viz., cowardice and dishonest)^ It is also distrustful : this 

 we can least pardon. Man dislikes suspicion, as it is an offence 

 against his honour, and an insult to his good intentions. When 

 wo compare the Dog and the Cat, so different from each other, 

 aversion to the one and attachment to the other results. To the 

 distrustful gaze of the Cat is opposed the confiding, frank eye of 

 the Dog ; and to the noble qualities in the latter we oppose the 

 objectionable ones in the former. 



No animal is more savage than the Cat when threatened by 

 chastisement or danger. For when it sees no chance of escape, it 

 defends itself with energy that cannot be surpassed. So long as 

 its enemy keeps at a respectful distance, it confines itself to a 

 passive resistance, watching, however, for the slightest indica- 

 tion of hostility, and holding itself ready for every emergency. 

 Should its adversary advance to seize it, with wonderful activity 

 it strikes with its terrible claws, at the same time expressing 

 anger with its voice. It nearly always comes off victorious, unlses 

 over-matched, for its agilitj^ renders escape almost certain. 



The Cat is less an enemy of the Dog than is generally believed. 

 When unacquainted with one another, they have little sympathy 

 in common ; but when associated for a length of time they become 

 good friends. Then they lick each other, sleep on each other, 

 and understand making mutual concessions, which enable them 

 to live in peace ; in short, the most perfect harmony frequently 

 reigns between them. Every one who keeps Cats and Dogs can 

 testify to the correctness of these assertions. 



The Jaguar {Leopardus onca), Fig. 146, also called the 

 American Tiger, is the largest carnivorous animal of the New 

 World. It almost' equals the Tiger in size, strength, and blood- 

 thirstiness ; it measures nearly seven feet from the end of the 

 nose to the root of the tail. It is not zebra-striped like the 

 Tiger, but spotted in the same manner as the Panther. Its mark- 

 ings are most numerous on the head, thighs, legs, and back, but 

 always irregular in shape ; on the flanks they are concentric, like a 

 rose, with a black point in the middle. The ground colour of the 

 coat is of a bright tawny hue above, and white beneath. 



