JAG 
zn eye, and a cylindric fnont. It is a native of In- 
dia, and derives it's name from the manner in 
■ivhich it col!e<^l:s it's food: for this purpofe it fre- 
quents the fliores and fides of the fea and rivers; 
and when it fpics a fly on any of thofe plants 
vv'hich grow in fliallov/ water, it fwims on to the 
diftance of a few feet, and then, with furprizing 
dexterity, eie6ls out of it's tubular mouth a fingle 
drop of water, which never fails to precipitate the 
infed: into the fea or river, where it becomes an 
cafy prey. 
JACULUM. An appellation given to the 
ferpent more frequently called the acontias, found 
in the ifland of Rhodes, and fome other places. 
See Acontias. 
JACUPEMA. A Brazilian bird of the phea- 
Hint kind, about the fize of the common European 
lien. It receives it's name from it's note, which is a 
repetition of the word Jacu. It's flefh is reckoned 
extremelv delicate; and it is eafily domefticated. 
JAGUACATl-GUACU. A Brazilian bird 
of the halcyon kind, called by the Portuguefe Papa 
Peexe. It is about the fize of the thrufli ; and it's 
colours have a ftron.fr refemblance to thofe of the 
common king-fiflier. 
JAGUAR. An animal of the feline kind, of 
a bright tawny colour. The top of the back is 
marked with long black ftripes ; and the fides are 
imprelTed with irregular oblong fpots, open in the 
middle, which is the ground colour of the hair. 
The thighs and legs are marked with full black 
fpots ; the belly and bread are v/hitifh; and the 
tail is iTiorter than the body. 
The Jaguar refembles the ounce in fize, in 
the figure of it's fpots, and even in it's difpofi- 
tion. It is the moft formidable, as well as the 
mod cruel animal, and in a word the tiger of the 
New World, where nature feems to have con- 
tracted every kind of quadruped. Like the tiger, 
the Jaguar lives folely on prey: but any kind of 
light is fufficient to intimidate it ; and when it's 
ftomach is full, it fo entirely lofes all it's courage 
and vivacity, as to fly before a fingle dog. It is 
neither nimble nor aftive, except when preflfed 
with hunger : neverthelefs, the lavages, who are 
naturally timid, are af?aid to encounter it; alledg- 
ing, that it prefers them to the Europeans, whom 
it never attacks. 
Almoft all authors who have penned the hifliory 
of the New World, mention this animal; fome un- 
der the name of the tiger or leopard; others under 
it's Brazilian appellation ; and fome have called it 
the Jaguara, or Janouara, one of it's Brazilian titles. 
It is found in Brazil, Paraguay, Guiana, Mexico, 
the country of the Amazons, and all South Ame- 
rica. It begins, however, to become more rare in 
Brazil, it's native climate, than formerly: a price 
has been let on it's head ; in confequence of which 
numbers have been deftroyed ; and the reft have 
retired from the coafts to the more defart and inte- 
rior parrs of the country. 
JAGUARETTE. This anim.al inhabits the 
fame countries, and poflTefles the identical difpofi- 
tions, of the jaguar; fo that naturalifts have been at 
a lofs to determine whether they were two diftinfl 
fpecies of the fame genus, or only varieties of the 
fame fpecies. Piib and Marcgrave, the only two 
authors who feem to have had an opportunity of 
giving original defcriptlons of the Jaguarette, fiy 
that it is diftinguiflicd from the jaguar by having 
Ihorter, more bright, and differently coloured hair, 
which is black, and variegated with fpots of a ftill 
J A U 
deeper black. In every other particular It refem- 
bles the jaguar: and may therefore be fafely fixed 
as a variety only of the fame fpecies; efpeci'ally as 
Pifo informs us, that in the jaguar the ground-co- 
lour of the hair, and that of the fpots, vary in dif- 
ferent individuals of the fame fpecies. 
The Jaguarette is much lefs common than the 
jaguar, at leaft near the abodes of men. It keeps 
clofe to thofe folltudes where it can range without 
interruption; and prefers liberty and fecurlty to 
plenty accompanied with danger. 
JAMACAII. A Brazilian bird, about the fize 
of the lark: it's head is fmall and black; it's beak 
Is a little Incurvated; It's throat Is of the fame co- 
lour with it's head; the upper part of It's neck is 
yellow ; and it's back, breaft, and belly, are alfo 
yellow. It's wings are black, except a white fpot 
on each; it's tail is wholly black; and it's legs and 
feet are brown. This bird makes a very elegant 
appearance; and, from the extreme length of it's 
tall, it feems to be of the rnotacilla kind. 
JAMBON. An appell atlon given by ibine 
naturalifts to a kind of marine {hell fomewhat re- 
fembling a ham of bacon; a fpecies of the pinna 
marina. 
JAMBU. A fort of Brazilian partridge, of 
which there are two fpecies. They are both of a 
duflcy yellow colour; and their flelh is much ef- 
teemed for It's delicacy and flavour. 
JAPACINI. A fmall Brazilian bird, having 
a long, black, pointed beak, a little bent down- 
wards; the head Is black; the back, neck, and 
wings, are of a greenifli brown colour mixed with 
black; the upper part of the tail Is black, the un- 
der being fpotted with white; the breaft, belly, and 
thighs, are variegated with white and yellow; and 
the latter are likewife marked with tranfverfe black 
ftreaks. 
JAPU. A Brazilian bird of the woodpecker 
kind, called alfo Jupajuba. See Jupujuba. 
JARARA-COAYPITINGA. A fpecies of 
American ferpent, which bears a ftriking refem- 
blance to the common viper, and is equally ve- 
nomous. The tail is fomewhat paler than the reft 
of the body; and thence it receives it's name, 
v/hich, in the language of the natives, expreflfes 
this quality. 
JARARA-EPEBA. An American ferpent of 
a brown colour, variegated with a beautiful undu- 
lated red line running along the back like a chain. 
JARARACA. A ferpent very common In 
America, of which De Laet enuirterates four fpe- 
cies. It feldom exceeds one foot and a half in 
length ; the head is marked with fome prominent 
veins; and the body is of a dufl<y brown colour, 
variegated with red and black fpots. This reptile 
is accounted very polfonous; but the natives are 
provided with an antidote agalnft it's effefts in the 
root of a plant by them called caatia; and, by the 
Portuguefe, herbade cobros. 
JARARACUCU. An American ferpent of 
the viviparous kind; and extremely prolific, thir- 
teen young having been found in the belly of a 
female of this fpecies. It grows to the length of 
thirty inches; and, like other polfonous reptiles, 
has very large and long teeth hid In the gums, con- 
taining a yellow infectious fluid: thefe it only ex- 
erts in the act of biting; and fo deleterious is it's 
poifon, that it generally carries off^ the perfon in- 
fedled In the fpace of twenty-four hours. 
JAUNDICE-BIRD. An appellation given 
by fome authors to the galbula, a bird of the turdus 
kind. 
