sovereign, universally acknowledged to be one of the wisest and bravest kings who then lived.

The nation of Scotland was also raised once more from the condition of a distressed and conquered province to that of a free and independent state, governed by its own laws, and subject to its own princes; and although the country was, after Bruce's death, often subjected to great loss and distress, both by the hostility of the English and by the unhappy civil wars among the Scots themselves, yet they never afterwards lost the freedom for which Wallace had laid down his life, and which King Robert had so signally achieved, no less by his wisdom than by his military talents. And therefore most just it is, that while the country of Scotland retains any recollection of its history, the memory of these brave warriors and faithful patriots ought to be remembered with gratitude and honour.-Sir W. Scott.

THE JAGUAR, OR AMERICAN TIGER.

ALIKE beautiful and ferocious, the jaguar is, of all American animals, unquestionably the most to be dreaded, on account of its combined strength, activity, and courage, which not only give it a superiority of physical power over other wild creatures, but enable it frequently to destroy man.

Compared with this formidable beast, the cougar need hardly be dreaded more than the wild cat, and the grisly-bear, although often quite as ready to attack man, is inferior in swiftness and stealthy cunning. To the so much feared tiger of the East he is equal in fierceness.

During the whole night he is abroad, but is most frequently met with in moonlight and fine nights, disliking dark and rainy weather; although at the promptings of hunger he will draw near the camp of the traveller, or seek the almost wild horses or cattle of the ranchero, even during daylight, with the coolest audacity.

When lying in wait at or near the wateringplaces of deer or horses, this savage beast exhibits great patience and perseverance, remaining for hours crouched down, with head depressed and still as death. But when some luckless animal approaches, its eyes seem to dilate, its hair bristles up, its tail is gently waved backwards and forwards, and all its powerful limbs appear to quiver with excitement. The unsuspecting creature draws near the dangerous spot: suddenly, with a tre

mendous leap, the jaguar pounces on him, and with the fury of a fiend fastens upon his neck with his terrible teeth, whilst his formidable claws are struck deep into his back and flanks. The poor victim writhes and plunges with fright and pain, and makes violent efforts to shake off the foe, but in a few moments is unable longer to struggle, and yields with a last despairing cry to his fate.

The jaguar begins to devour him while yet alive, and growls over his prey until his hunger is appeased. When he has finished his meal, he sometimes covers the remains of the carcase with sticks, grass, weeds, or earth-if not disturbed-so as to conceal it from other predaceous animals and vultures, until he is ready for another banquet.

On one occasion a small party of hunters came across a jaguar whilst feeding on a mustang. The animal was surrounded by eight or ten hungry wolves, which dared not interfere or approach too near "the presence." The hunters gave chase to the jaguar, on which the wolves set up a howl or cry like a pack of hounds, and joined in the hunt. The jaguar being shot down as he ran, the wolves went back to the carcase of the horse and finished it.

The favourite food of the jaguar, when he can get it, is the flesh of the various monkeys. But to catch a monkey is no easy task-it must be achieved by leaping upon the prey from a place of concealment, or surprising it whilst sleeping. Sometimes the jaguar is fortunate enough to get amidst a little band of monkeys before the latter

are aware of the presence of the dreaded foe; it then deals a few fierce strokes with its terrible paws, dashing the monkeys to the ground; it then descends and feeds at leisure.

a

The great traveller, Humboldt, tells the following story of a jaguar :-" Two Indian children, boy and a girl, eight or nine years of age, were sitting amongst the grass near the village of Atures, in the midst of a savannah. It was two in the afternoon when a jaguar issued from the forest and approached the children, gamboling around them, sometimes concealing himself among the long grass, and again springing forward with his back curved and his tail lowered, as is usual with our cats. The little boy was unaware of the danger in which he was placed, and became sensible of it only when the jaguar struck him on the head with one of his paws. were at first slight, but the claws of the jaguar blood flowed with violence. The little girl then took up a branch of a tree and struck the animal, which fled before her. The Indians, hearing the cries of the children, ran up and saw the jaguar, which bounded off without showing any disposition to defend itself."

The blows thus inflicted gradually became ruder ; wounded the child, and

LEARN:

Ran-che'-ro, an enclosure for breeding | Mus'-tang, a wild horse of the prairies.

cattle.

Pre-da-ce-ous, living by prey.

Sa-van'-nah, an extensive open plain,

destitute of trees.