CARNIVORA. 
73 
gone to prepare for his adventure, the animal re- 
turned from the opposite side of a large and deep 
river, and, having seized the horse with its teeth, 
drew it for about sixty paces to the water, swam 
across with its prey, and then drew it into a neigh-^ 
bouring wood, in sight, the whole time, of the person 
who was left by Azara concealed, to observe what 
might happen before his return. 
The husbandmen frequently fasten two horses 
together while grazing ; and it is confidently stated, 
that the jaguar will sometimes kill one, and, in spite 
of the exertions of the survivor, draw them both into 
the wood^. It is possible, that the extreme terror 
of the surviving horse may paralyze its efforts. 
Generally speaking, the jaguar will not attack a 
man ; but if it be pressed by hunger, or have pre- 
viously tasted human flesh, its appetite will over- 
come all fear; and, during the residence of Azara in 
Paraguay, no less than six men were destroyed by 
this formidable beast, two of whom were, at the time, 
in the act of warming themselves before a large 
fire. 
The smaller variety differs as to the shape, &c. of 
the spots, which accord rather with Cuvier’s cha- 
racter of the animal. The colour of this appears 
paler and more ashy than that figured. 
* Molina attributes this performance to the puma ; but Azara, 
who, from his g-eneral accuracy, is more likely to be correct, mentions 
it in his history of the jaguar. 
