A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



257 



us were actuated by a sudden panic. All the moles, which 

 were solemnly seated, nodded to and fro their enormous 

 heads, showing their long yellow incisors, and seemed to 

 sniff the air. Suddenly they all rushed towards their bur- 

 rows. A jaquarete had scattered them by springing in 

 among them. The new-comer, a species of wild-cat, with a 

 coat of the darkest black, left two or three victims dead 

 upon the ground, and then set up a plaintive mewing. 



This call soon attracted two young ones, which darted at 

 once on the first mole they came to. Each of them seized 

 holdftf one side of their prey, spitting just like cats, and 

 trying to tear it with their formidable claws. The mother 

 was obliged to put a stop to the quarrel by an energetic 

 display of authority, allotting a separate victim to each of 

 her ferocious offspring ; then she lay down and yawned sev- 

 eral times, while the young ones were tearing to pieces the 

 bodies of their prey. When they had eaten all they re- 

 quired, the mother gluttonously devoured all that was left, 

 without ceasing to watch a third mole, round which the two 

 young carnivora were prowling. "Whenever they came near 

 her prey, she gave a growl ; and they seemed to know the 

 meaning of this maternal injunction, for they crouched 

 down to the ground, and drew back, lowering their heads, 

 as if from fear. As soon as her repast was finished, the 

 jaquarete caught up in her mouth the untouched mole, and 

 made off without noticing us. 



" What do you think of these little ogres ?" asked Sumi- 

 chrast, addressing Lucien. 



"How very pretty they are, with their black shiny coats ! 

 They are just like big cats." 



" That's very likely, for cats are their first cousins." 



" Do jaquaretes ever attack men ?" 



" No ; but, still, if we had tried to touch her young ones, 

 the mother would perhaps have flown at us." 



