Carnivora. MAMMALIA. Carnivora. 
the great beast. A blooily tale is related in the Re- 
port of the JJ. S. Mexican Boundary Survey. In the 
year 1824, at the convent of San Francisco, in Santa 
Fe, a lay brother, who had just returned from his 
devotions, met in the hall-way of the convent, face to 
face, an enormous Jaguar. The creature, finding 
itself cornered, sprang upon the monk, and very 
quickly killed him. The guardian, aroused by the 
cries, came at once to the scene, and had scarcely 
made an attempt to resist the beast before he was 
mortally hurt. A third person was slain almost as 
quickly. Mr. Iriondo, a senator of the State, being 
present, armed several men, and succeeded in driving 
the Jaguar into an inner room ; but, in this encounter, 
a fourth human victim was sacrificed. A hole was 
now bored in the door leading to the inner room 
where the creature had been enclosed, and through 
that he was shot. The measurement of this Jaguar 
was five feet from the nose to the root of the tail. 
The Jaguar has a reputation for immense phy- 
sical strength. One instance is recorded of the beast 
seizing a Horse (after capturing it in the same man- 
ner attributed to the Puma — that of leaping upon its 
neck and forcing the head backwards until the spinal 
cord is broken), and dragging it to a stream, swim- 
ming across, and at last lifting it upon the bank, 
where it feasted on the carcass. Humboldt re- 
garded the largest. specimen he met with as “exceed- 
ing in length any Tiger of India which I have seen 
in the collections of Europe.” This Oat seems to 
understand fully the ad vantage of “ Turtle-turning.” 
The huge Sea 'I’urtle goes upon the sandy beach to 
lay her eggs ; after digging a hole, and laying her 
“ complement,” she covers them with due care, and 
cautiously returns seaward. At this juncture, the 
great feline, who has wisely overlooked the whole 
proceeding, now deliberately approaches, and most 
adroitly capsizes the huge reptile. Once on her 
back, she is completely helpless. Jaguar is conscious 
of this, as is the “ mariner, who finds his occupation 
in’t.” He, therefore, proceeds deliberately to un- 
cover the eggs, then and there indulging his taste 
with the delicious relish, as entremets to the more 
solid pabulum thus securely in hand. He waives 
the traditionalj^fs^ course, declining soup of his Tur- 
tle, but may be said to take it raw on the half shell. 
To realize fully how skilfully this Cat separates the 
flesh from the shells of the Turtle, we should read 
the accounts of Humboldt and other South American 
travelers. The sharp claws are introduced between 
the shells, and every particle is separated. The 
arboreal habits of the Jaguar fit it for an easy cap- 
ture of prey from the numerous bands of Monkeys, 
besides the larger animals, which, we have seen, he 
does not hesitate to attempt. The Capybara is the 
most common victim, as it is sluggish and easily cap- 
tured. The little Peccary gives him infinite difficulty, 
however, not hesitating to give him battle, and often 
proving a most deadly foe, instead of an easy victim, 
which his insignificant appearance betokens. Its 
sabre like teeth are used with deadly effect, and fre- 
quently prove too much for the aggressor. Instances 
are recorded of birds on the wing being struck down 
Ixiii 
by a single blow of the Jaguar, and fishes are seized 
from the lake or stream by its nimble talons. 
OCELOT, TIGEE CAT [Felis pardalis, Linn.) — 'I'his 
is the F. armillata of F. Cuvier ; F. griffithii of 
Smith ; F. catenata of Griffith ; and F. chibiguazu of 
others. In size it is about that of the Wild Cat. 
I’he ears are black, with a white spot. Tail above 
is black, with narrow white bands. On the back 
of the neck are fine stripes, with lighter inter- 
vals. Along the back is a series of full black 
blotches, more or less continuous. The rest of the 
back and sides show a grayish net-work, enclosing- 
angular blotches, more or less elongated, black ex- 
ternally, brownish-yellow in the centre. The blotches 
next the dorsal line are more serial and smaller. The 
Ocelot inhabits all of Texas, and reaches north as far 
as Red River. It resembles, more or less, other 
South American species. It weighs rather more 
than F. macroura or F. oceloides. F. mitis is nearer 
it in size. From the nose to the root of tail it 
measures twenty-seven inches. Its fur is short, close 
and glossy. The skin is prized for certain purposes, 
and often, it is said, commands the same price as 
that of the Jaguar. The Ocelot is regarded as less 
amenable to cultivation or kind treatment ; fierce 
and treacherous in the wild state, it scarcely becomes 
a safe or attractive pet when kept in confinement. 
It is surly and capricious, growling fiercely and spit- 
ting when the cage is approached. At times, or per- 
haps more particularly with certain individuals, it 
purrs and exhibits something like a pleasant temper. 
TIGEE CAT [Felis eyra, Desm.) — Berlandier ob- 
tained a specimen of this Cat in Matamoras, and, on 
the strength of this. Prof. Baird enumerates it with 
the North American Felidm. It is the size of a com- 
mon Cat, but longer in body ; its neck is much 
longer, and its general form is musteline. Tlje tail 
is rather longer than the body. Its color is a uniform 
brownish-red, a little paler beneath ; the hairs are 
not mottled. Its head is small ; the ears are short, 
without tufts ; the body is slender. Dr. Berlandier 
tamed one to a certain extent, but there seems little 
evidence in favor of their proving acceptable pets. 
In the desolate regions of Tamaulipas, and in Guiana, 
Brazil, Paraguay, and the Rio Grande of Texas, they 
abound. 
THE YAGUAEUNDI (Felis yaguarundi, Desm .) — 
This is larger, somewhat, and decidedly longer than 
the common Cat. The tail is as long as tlie body, 
exclusive of the neck and head. The prevailing color 
is a uniform grizzled brownish-gray, with no spots or 
markings. The hairs are annulated and tipped with 
black. The young are more rufous. It is the F. 
mexicanus of Desm., and F. cacomitl of Berlandier. 
The latter author procured a specimen in Matamoras, 
which fact establishes the habitat of the animal far- 
ther north than it had hitherto been known to live. 
Paraguay is said to be its southern limit of range. 
With the Puma and Lynx it e.xhibits a striking con- 
trast to all other members of the family by its plain, 
uniform color. 
THE MAEGUAY [Felis tigrina). — ^This is one of 
the handsomest of the smaller Cats common to 
