The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-11-21

layas. The black jaguar is said to be larger
than his ally of the lowlands, though Ii may
well be doubted If this assertion is capable Of
proof, and it is certainly the case that the men,
bers of the entire group are more abundant
upon the east than the west side Of the Andes
Further, it may DO stated with sufficient accu-
raey that the jaguar distribution is limited by
the southern parts of Patagonia on the one side,
and by the Red River of Louisiana and the
Medina or Texas upon the other.
THE TRUE HOME OF THE JAGUAR
is however in the great woodland Of the ANA
IONS. Here" says Lockington, "he reigns
supreme, the terror of the forest, as the lion is
of the desert, and the tiger of the jungle; the
acknowledged and dreaded lord of man and
quadruped" Charles Darwin also found these
animals in La Plata living in the reed belts
around lake shores, like the lion and tiger in
certain parts Of Asia and Africa; while every
where the jaguar, unlike the panther, whom
he most resembles in appearance, seems to be
intolerant of thirst, and is seldom found except
in the vicinity of water. In these latter sit
uatiOns FaicOner states that they subsist chiefly
upon fish. According to Smiths account, the
animal fishes even in those rivers whose banks
abound with other game, and there he is said
to lie upon limb overhanging the stream, and
tap the surface of the water gently with his
tail to attract the fruit-eating fishes who, mis-
taking the sound for the fall of their food from
the trees, rise TO the lure and are dextrously
cast on shore by the jaguar's paw.
As q rule, however, that large rodent, the Ca
pybara, the only living representative of an
ancient family otherwise extinct, forms his
principal prey, and where these are plentiful,
Darwin reports saying of the Indians to the
effect that there is then little danger to man
from eel tigre's" (the tigers attacks. Like
the Indian panther, the jaguar is very partial
to monkeys, but this astute generation is sell
Il
caught. The natives, however, fully believe that
this animal has similar powers of fascination
with those which the North African Arabs and
| even Gerard, attribute to the lion. aud Wallace
repeats story he heard from a Brazilian In
dian of how he saw on one occasion q howl
ing monkey charmed down from his secure POI
sition among the branches aad devOured
While aloft, there could have been no danger of
destruction, because the American tiger is too
large and heavy TO be arboreal in his habits
although when necessity requires he can climb
perfectly well. Most OF his prey is no doubt
found upon the surface of the earth or in the
water. OF turtles he consumes large numbers
and also of their eggs. Shel-tiSh aud lizards
likewise do not como amiSS, while according
To Wood, his "ravenous appetite" even in
duces him to descend to insects Terrestrial
mammals, nevertheless, afford the main food
supply of this creature, aud he kills all of
those, without exception, which are either in
digenous to his habitat or have been introduced
in the domestieated state In one Instance
and in a single locality, so destructive have
been the attacks of the iaguar that the entire
class has been exterminated. Humboldt in
forms US that on the Upper 0rinoeo the goats
brought by Spanish and Portuguese settlers
have disappeared from this cause, and he adds
that of their pigs, favorite prey with the
jaguaF and puma also none have survived the
ravages of these wild beasts but those which
4 .. H. -. =
black aud white variety called "puercos fran
ceses" from the circumstance Of their origin.
ALTHOUGH THE JAGUAR is TRUE HUNTER,
and will, rs T. p. Bigg-Wither reports, trail
mon for days, like the lion has been known to
do no is, probably from lazness and the album
dance of game in most of the places which he
inhabits, not accustomed to pursue his prey,
but usually takes it from an ambush. When
peccary is the victim this is invariably the
case, for the jaguar is by no means match for
any considerable number of these fearless wild
swine. Therefore, in the event of not being
able to stalk straggler from the herd, Belt
relates that he springs upon one of them, kills
the animal in q moment, and Immediately as
Humboldt says, takes refuge in a tree" there
to await the departure of the dead porker's en-
ragged companions, who, despite serious loss TO
themselves, would make short work with the
assassin If he remained upon the ground. This
is nothing to the disparagement of the jaguar's
courage or prOwess. lie is properly described
by WatertOn as "a cruel, strong and danger
GUS beast; but the author has seen herd of
pecoaries charge squadron of cavalry and
scatter it like the SCATTERING volley of infantry
in position; aud the fact is too we'll attested to
be disregarded that the wild hog of India will
sometimes kill the tiger.
Perhaps the most singular propensity, in q
predatory direction, exhibited by this beast is
his pursuit of the alligator. There is an incl
dent reported by Inglis of tiger who was i'm
prisoned by flood in one of the small. barren,
unpopulated sunderbuns, and who during the
time of his captivity supported himself by
killing crocOdies. But in this case the great
cat seems to make prey of the saurian habit
ually, or, at least, whenever an opportunity for
doing 80 presents itself. All the natives be-
lieve that such is the fact, and the observation
Of saVages is as acute as their reasoning upon