escaped from their tormentors, have been easily overcome by the hunters. 
This is the more remarkable since the puma is an animal of far inferior size 
and power to its adversary, although what it lacks in power it makes up in 
agility. 
The Gauchos of South America are in the habit of capturing the jaguar 
with the lasso; and I once witnessed a curious instance of how one of these 
fierce animals was absolutely paralyzed with fear, induced by a party of 
hunters who intended to capture it in this manner. These hunters had 
THE STORY OF THE JAGUAR. 131 
A peculiar animosity to the jaguar is displayed in the pampas by its near 
relative the puma. Where the two species inhabit the same district they 
are at enmity, the puma being the persistent persecutor of the jaguar, fol¬ 
lowing and harassing it as a tyrant-bird harasses an eagle or hawk, moving 
about it with such rapidity as to confuse it, and, when an opportunity occurs, 
springing upon its back, and inflicting terrible wounds with teeth and claws. 
Jaguars with scarred backs are frequently killed, and others, not long 
JAGUAR IN ITS NATIVE FOREST. 
