154 THE OCELOT. 



THE GRAY OCELOT is so called on account of the comparatively light hue of the fur. 

 The spots are not quite so numerous nor so bold as in the preceding animal, and the throat is 

 remarkable for its whitish-gray tint, unbroken by spots or streaks. All these creatures are 

 found in tropical America. 



The Ocelot soon learns to distinguish friends from foes, and can easily be brought to a 

 state of partial tameness. 



Several of these animals, when I first made their acquaintance, were rather crabbed in 

 disposition, snarled at the sound of a strange step, growled angrily at my approach, and 

 behaved altogether in a very unsocial manner, in spite of many amicable overtures. After 

 awhile, I saw that these creatures were continully and vainly attempting the capture of certain 

 flies which buzzed about the cage. So I captured a few large blue-bottle flies, and poked them 

 through a small aperture in the cage, so that the Ocelot's paw might not be able to reach my 

 hand. At first, the Ocelots declined to make any advances in return for the gift, but they 

 soon became bolder, and at last freely took the flies as fast as they were caught. The ice 

 was now broken, and in a very short time we were excellent friends, the angry snarl being 

 exchanged for a complacent purr, and the suspicious shrinking movements for a <juiet and 

 composed demeanor. 



The climax to their change of character was reached by giving them a few leaves of grass, 

 for which they were, as I thought they would be, more anxious than for the flies. They tore 

 the green blades out of my hand, and retired to their sleeping-house for the purpose of eating 

 the unaccustomed dainty undisturbed. After this they were quite at their ease, and came to 

 the front of the cage whenever I passed. 



Every one who has watched the habits of the domestic cat must have noticed how thankful 

 she seems for a few leaves of grass. It is curious that a carnivorous animal should be so 

 impelled by instinct as to turn for a time to vegetable food, and to become, for the nonce, a 

 herbivorous creature. Dogs, it is well known, will resort to the same plant, and appear to 

 use it in a medicinal point of view. 



The eye of the Ocelot is a pale yellowish brown, and tolerably full, with the linear pupil 

 that is found in the smaller felidse. 



There are several species of these pretty and agile animals, among which the most con- 

 spicuous are the Common, the Gray, and Painted Ocelots, and the Margay, or Marjay, as it is 

 sometimes called. The habits of these animals are very similar. 



In its native woods, the Ocelot seeks its food, chiefly among the smaller mammalia and 

 birds, although it is sufficiently powerful to attack and destroy a moderately sized monkey. 

 The monkeys it can chase into the tree branches, being nearly as expert a climber as them- 

 selves, but, as it cannot follow the birds into their airy region, it is forced to match its cunning 

 against their wings. As is often done by the domestic cat, the Ocelot can spring among a 

 flock of birds as they rise from the ground, and, leaping into the air, strike down one of them 

 with its rapid paw. But its chief method of obtaining birds is by concealing itself among the 

 branches of a tree, and suddenly knocking them over as they come and settle unsuspiciously 

 within reach of the hidden foe. 



THE PAINTED OCELOT resembles the preceding animal in the general aspect of its fur, 

 but is marked in a richer manner. 



The spots are more numerous, closer together, and more uniform than those of the common 

 Ocelot. The black markings of the tail are of a very deep hue indeed, and occupy a large 

 portion of that member. The throat is grayish white, with one or two very bold black streaks 

 drawn upon it, extending towards the shoulders. These streaks are branch-like in form, and 

 are very clearly defined. The spots that run along the spine are solid, and of a deep velvety 

 black. 



When in captivity, the Ocelot seems to prefer birds and rabbits, or similar creatures, to 

 any other food, and is able to strip the feathers from the bird before it begins its meal. The 

 head appears to be its favorite morsel, and, with the head, the Ocelot generally commences its 

 meal. The reader may remember that the Jaguar, mentioned on page 144, had decapitated 



