SOUTH AMERICA. 



4J9 



Ferocious as he is in his wild 



Mar gay. 



state, the Jaguar, when captive, becomes tame and even mild, 

 and is particularly fond of licking the hands 

 of those with whom he is familiar. The 

 taking of the Jaguar forms a portion of tlie 

 warlike features distinguishing the Indians 

 of South America, particularly the Llane- 

 ros, or men of the plains. The Cougar 

 is found in diiferent parts of this country ; 

 it has already been described under the 

 General View of North America. Tlie 

 Ocelot (F. pardalis) is nearly equal in 

 size to the lynx of Europe, but shorter in 

 its proportions, and more gracehil in its 

 form ; it holds, as it were, a middle sta- 

 tion between the leopard and the domestic 

 cat. Its body, when full grown, is nearly 

 3 feet in length, and its tail rather more 

 than 1, while its medium height may be 

 reckoned at about 18 inches. It is ex- 

 tensively spread over the American conti- 

 nent, being found in the widely separated 

 regions of Mexico and Paraguay, where it 

 abides in the depths of the forests during 

 the day, and giving chase at night to birds 

 and small quadrupeds. As it is an active 

 climber, it follows the birds even to their 

 nests. It does not eat with the sauje ra- 

 venous avidity which characterizes nearly 

 all the animals of its tribe. The JMargay 

 [F. tigrina) is much smaller than the oce- 

 lot. It resembles the wild cat in the size 

 and shape of its body ; its head only is 

 more square, its snout longer, its ears 

 rounder, and its tail longer , its hair also is 

 shorter, and it has black streaks and spots 

 on a brown ground. Its skin is fawn- 

 colored above, and whitish beneath, with 

 longish spots of dark brown, disposed in 

 fine lines, straight on the back, and oblique 

 on the flanks. The shouldeis are spotted 

 with a deep reddish-brown, and bordered 

 with a black-brown. It is very difficult to 

 be tamed, and never loses its natural fero- 

 city ; it varies greatly in its color, though 

 commonly it is such as we have described 

 it. This animal is very common in 



anmial is 



Brazil and Guiana. There are several other small species of the cat kind. 



The Tapir or Anta ( Tapirus Jlmericanus) ^ is of the size of a small cow, or zebu, but 

 without horns, and with a short, naked tail ; the legs are short and thick ; and the feet have 

 small, black hoofs. His skin is so thick and hai'd as to be almost impenetrable to a bullet ; 

 for which reason the Indians make shields of it. The tapir seldom stirs out but in the night, 

 and delights in the water, where he oftcner lives than on land. He is chiefly to be found in 

 marshes, and seldom goes far from the borders of rivers or lakes. He swims and dives 

 with singular facility. This animal is commonly found in Brazil, Paraguay, Guiana, and in all 

 the extent of South America, from the extremity of Chili to Colombia. Another species 

 has been discovered in the Andes, but is little known. The Peccary bears a strong resem- 

 blance to the common domestic hog, but is, however, of a distinct species, and ditfers in 

 several striking characters. But the most remarkable distinction between if ,'ind all oiher 



