The Jaguar is perhaps the fiercest-looking of all the great Cats, having an extremely ferocious expression and a horrid habit of showing its great fangs. Some time ago we were taken over the fine Lion-house in the Zoological Gardens by the Superintendent, Mr. Bartlett, to whose practical genius for everything that relates to the comfort of the animals under his charge most of the perfections of that structure are due. The little sleeping apartments at the back of the den open by iron doors into a long corridor, and in each of the doors is a small hole about the size of a penny, through which the keeper can look. Mr. Bartlett blew sharply through the hole in the den of the Jaguar’s cage, and then allowed us to look through, and there was something terrible in the way the savage beast rushed at the door, growling and “swearing” like a very large and fierce Tom Cat. Even the knowledge of the strong iron door between us and the Jaguar could not prevent us from starting back, there was something so suggestive, in the beast’s looks, of being torn to pieces and devoured. [Illustration: JAGUAR.] The Jaguar is found in North and South America, extending from the Southern regions of the United States, through Mexico, Central America, and Brazil, as far south as Paraguay. Of its habits, occurrence, &c., the following interesting account is given by Mr. Darwin:[20]-- “The wooded banks of the great rivers appear to be the favourite haunts of the Jaguar; but south of the Plata, I was told that they frequented the reeds bordering lakes. Wherever they are, they seem to require water. Their common prey is the Capybara, so that it is generally said, where Capybaras are numerous there is little danger from the Jaguar. Falconer states that near the southern side of the mouth of the Plata there are many Jaguars, and that they chiefly live on fish. This account I have heard repeated. On the Paranà they have killed many wood-cutters, and have even entered vessels at night. There is a man now living in Bajada, who, coming up from below when it was dark, was seized on the deck; he escaped, however, with the loss of the use of one arm. When the floods drive these animals from the islands, they are most dangerous. I was told that, a few years since, a very large one found its way into a church at Santa Fé: two padres entering one after the other were killed, and a third, who came to see what was the matter, escaped with difficulty. The beast was destroyed by being shot from a corner of the building, which was unroofed. They commit also at these times great ravages among Horses and cattle. It is said that they kill their prey by breaking their necks. If driven from the carcass, they seldom return to it. The Gauchos say that the Jaguar, when wandering about at night, is much tormented by the Foxes yelping as they follow him. This is a curious coincidence with the fact which is generally affirmed of the Jackals