The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-01
ROGUES THAT ARE FOUND
 IN GEOLOGICAL GARDENS

man traitor might be guilty Of all the splendid cat animals in the park spieh- did lion house, Lopez was the last whom the experts considered treacherous. lie was a fine, tall, noble beast, big ana powerful as many an Indian uger' Witn a skin of rich yellow. beautifully marked with clear black spots, and a quick, in- talIigent. handsome face He was con- sidered an exemplary animal. Unlike vic- ious cats. he neither snarled nor charged the bars of his cage but delighted In " ing on his back, kitten fashion, While the keeper scratched with a stick the thick, glossy pelt and the big fellow purred with satisfaction Both physically and in disposition he was such a splendid ani- mai that it was decided to secure him mate. And all the way from Hamburg, in little oak travelling cage. Rayda came, a beautiful, almost full-grown fe- male iaguar, so docile that she answered to name. and fawned against the bars of her cage for the caress and pats or her keeper.
 Before pair of wild animals are caged together it is necessary to find how they will get along. Raydas little cage was raised to the level of Lopezs spacious one The big fellow was greatly interest," ed in, his visitor He bounded back and forth, showing every evidence of joy and, when the cages were pushed bars to bars, he reached through and passed huge. soft paw across her back while she fawned as near as possible, not only without the least sign of fear, but pur- ring with satisfaction and interested only in the prospects of a larger cage and a companion In captivity
 For two days the cages were face to face, Lopez continuing to coax and court his new-found friend; and all the time with murder in his mind. Not even
 ofra fad the treachery; for, when the doors were opened, with every evidence of glee she bounded into the den. From the instant she entered the true purpose of the jag uar was shown. He lay in lar corner his entire bearing even to the expression of his face, changed. Crouching low every nerve and sinew tense and twltch- ing nervously for his aim, the great beast was on the verge of spring. Sud denly the yellow body darted through the cage in a long high bound, and, be- fore the friendly animal could raise paw in defense, he had her by the neck and held on like a bull dog, sinking his teeth deeper and deeper till they crunch ed on the vertebrae. From the first bite Rayda seemed utterly helpless. The en- ragged iaguar was beaten over the head and prodded in the face with iron bars and poles But he merely closed his eyes and frightened his grip until the pun ishment rained so thick that he Jumped to his feet, took the 150 pound body as cat holds a kitted, and bounded to far corner of his cage. It was fully min ute before the murderer could be forced from his prey: and what so recently had been lovable although wild creature lay dead
 Jaguar's Jaws Are Strong. At first it was supposed that Lopez canine teeth had penetrated the jugular , vein. but an autopsy revealed the strength of the jaguars frightful jaws. Two of the neck vertebrae had been crushed and splintered and the spinal cord had been penetrated by fragments of the bone. causing paralysis almost from the very first.
 | Often, especially in trained wild-ani- maj shows, an obedient and perfectly manageable feline develops into a rogue; in fact, when these huge cats grow old and lazy they become slow to obey their masters, and. upon being urged repeat edly, the day comes when they resent