4 
JAGUAR. 
strength, activity, and courage, which not only give it a vast physical 
power over other wild creatures, but enable it frequently to destroy man. 
Compared with this formidable beast, the cougar need hardly be dreaded 
more than the wild cat ; and the grizzly bear, although often quite as ready 
to attack man, is inferior in swiftness and stealthy cunning. To the so much 
feared tiger of the East he is equal in fierceness ; and it is owing, perhaps, 
to his being nocturnal in his habits to a great extent, that he seldom issues 
from the deep swamps or the almost impenetrable thickets or jungles of 
thorny shrubs, vines, and tangled vegetation which compose the cliaparals 
of Texas and Mexico, or the dense and untracked forests of Central and 
Southern America, xo attack man. From his haunts in such nearly unap- 
proachable localities, the Jaguar roams forth towards the close of the day, 
and during the hours of darkness seizes on his prey. During the whole 
night he is abroad, but is most frequently met with in moonlight and fine 
nights, disliking dark and rainy weather, although at the promptings ol 
hunger he will draw near the camp of the traveller, or seek the almost 
wild horses or cattle of the ranchero even during daylight, with the 
coolest audacity. 
The Jaguar has the cunning to resort to salt-licks, or the watering- 
places of the mustangs and other wild animals, where, concealing himself 
behind a bush, or mounting on to a low or sloping tree, ha lies in wait 
until a favorable opportunity presents itself for springing on his prey. 
Like the cougar and the wild cat, he seeks for the peccary, the skunk, 
opossum, and the smaller rodentia ; but is fond of attacking the larger 
quadrupeds, giving the preference to mustangs or horses, mules, or 
cattle. The colts and calves especially afford him an easy prey, and 
form a most important item in the grand result of his predatory 
expeditions. 
Like the lion and tiger, he accomplishes by stealth or stratagem what 
could not be effected by his swiftness of foot, and does not, like the 
untiring wolf, pursue his prey with indomitable perseverance at top speed 
for hours together, although he will sneak after a man or any other prey 
for half a day at a time, or hang on the skirts of a party for a considerable 
period, watching for an opportunity of springing upon some person or 
animal in the train. 
Col. Hays and several other officers of the Rangers, at the time J. W 
Audubon was at San Antonio de Bexar, in 1845, informed him that the 
Jaguar was most frequently found about the watering-places of the mus- 
tangs, or wild horses, and deer. It has been seen to spring upon the 
former, and from time to time kills one ; but it is much more in the 
habit of attacking colts about six months old, which it masters with 
