p in the bed clothes; but these would be
torn off. The idea of getting under the low bedstead suggested itself,
but she felt sure a paw would be stretched forth which would drag her
out: her husband had taken all their fire-arms. At last, as she heard
the jaguar this time scrambling up the end of the house, she, in
despair, got into a large store chest, the lid of which closed with a
spring. Scarcely was she within it, and had dragged the lid down,
inserting her fingers between it and the side of the chest, when the
jaguar discovered where she was; he smelt round the chest, tried to get
his head in through the crack, but fortunately he could not raise the
lid; he found her fingers and began to lick them; she felt them bleed,
but did not dare to move them, for fear she should be suffocated. At
length the jaguar leaped on to the lid, and his weight, pressing down
the lid, fractured these fingers. Still she could not move, he smelt
round again, he pulled, he leaped on and off, till, at last, getting
tired of his vain efforts, he went away. The poor woman lay there till
daybreak, and then only, feeling safe from her enemy, she went as fast
as her strength would let her to the nearest neighbour's, a distance of
two miles, where she procured help for her wounded fingers, which were
long getting well. On his return, her husband found a male and female
jaguar in the forest close by, with their cubs; and all were destroyed.

As proof that these animals are as soon startled as the tiger, we are
told of an Indian, who saw a fierce-looking jaguar standing directly in
his path, at a distance of ten paces. At first he was extremely puzzled
to know what to do; but a sudden impulse prompted him to take off his
broad brimmed hat, make a low bow, and say, "A very good morning to you,
Sir;" and to his surprise, the jaguar turned round, and walked leisurely
away.

A very beautiful Ounce lived in the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes,
in Paris, which became extremely tame; and Mdlle. Cuvier and I used
very often to go and take him a walk, leading him from his den to a
small space surrounded by high stakes: he required no other confinement
to ensure his obedience, than twisting our hands in the loose skin of
his neck, and he never failed at all times to recognise us with pleasure
if we went into his vicinity.

The Cheetah is gentle and affectionate, and successfully trained for
hunting.

CATS.

Cats are diminished examples of