182 



JAGUAR. 



just killed a chiguire, which it held with one of its 

 paws, while the zamuro-vultures were assembled in 

 flocks around it. It was curious to observe the 

 mixture of boldness and timidity which these birds 

 exhibited, for although they advanced within two 

 feet of the tiger, they instantly shrank back at the 

 least motion which he made. In order to examine 

 more nearly their manners, the travellers went into 

 the little boat ; when the tyrant of the forest with- 

 drew behind the sauso-bushes, leaving his victim, 

 which the vultures in the mean time attempted to 

 devour, but were soon put to flight by his rushing 

 into the midst of them.* 



Continuing to descend the river, they met with a 

 great herd of chiguires that the tiger had dispersed, 

 and from which he had selected his prey. These 

 animals seemed not to be afraid of men, for they saw 

 the travellers land without agitation, but the sight of 

 a dog put them to flight. They ran so slowly that 

 the people succeeded in catching two of them. It is 

 the largest of the Glires, or gnawing animals. Its 

 flesh has a disagreeable smell of musk, although 



* In the province of Tucuman, the common mode of killing the jaguar 

 is to trace him to his lair by the wool left on the bushes, if he has carried 

 off a sheep, or by means of a dog trained for the purpose. On finding 

 the enemy the gaucho puts himself into a position for receiving him on 

 the point of a bayonet or spear, at the first spring which he makes, and 

 thus waits until the dogs drive him out ; an exploit which he performs 

 with such coolness and dexterity that there is scarcely an instance of 

 failure. " In a recent instance, related by our capitaz, the business was 

 not so quickly completed. The animal lay stretched at full length on the 

 ground, like a gorged cat. Instead of showing anger and attacking his 

 enemies with fury, he was playful, and disposed rather to parley with the 

 dogs with good-humour than to take their attack in sober earnestness. 

 He was now fired upon, and a ball lodged in his shoulder; on which he I 

 sprang so quickly on his watching assailant, that he not only buried the 

 bayonet in his body, but tumbled over the capitaz who held it, and they 

 floundered on the ground together, the man being completely in his 

 clutches. 1 1 thought,' said the brave fellow, 1 1 was no longer a capitaz, 

 while I held my arm up to protect my throat, which the animal seemed in 

 the act of seizing ; but when I expected to feel his fangs in my flesh, the 

 green fire of his eyes which blazed upon me, flashed out in a moment. 

 He fell on me and expired at the very instant I thought myself lost for 

 ever.' "—Captain Andrews's Travels in South America, vol. i. p. 219. 



