JAGUAR, a name given to the Brazilian once, a species of FELIS.—It grows to the size of a wolf: its hair of a bright tawny colour; the breast and belly whitish; the tail shorter than the body, the upper part deep tawny, marked irregularly with black spots. It inhabits the hottest parts of South America from the Isthmus of Darien to Buenos Ayres; is fierce, and destructive to man and beast. Like the tiger, it plunges its head into the body of its prey, and sucks out the blood before it devours it; makes a great noise like the howling of a hungry dog; and is a very cowardly animal, easily put to flight either by the shepherds dogs or by a lighted torch, being very fearful of fire. It lies in ambush near the sides of rivers.—There is sometimes seen a singular combat between this animal and the crocodile: when the jaguar comes to drink, the crocodile, ready to surprise any animal that approaches, raises its head out of the water; the former strikes its claws into the eyes, the only penetrable part of this dreadful reptile, who immediately dives under water, pulling his enemy along with him, where they commonly both perish.