THE RIAfAU-DAHAN. 



155 



the fowls which it had snatched from the steward, and had eaten their heads before they could 

 be reclaimed. 



Ocelots have been kept in the Zoological Gardens at Central Park, and always attract by 

 their exceeding beauty of markings. They resisted all attempts at familiarity, and seemed 

 not amenable to domestication ; though perhaps a longer term of confinement might prove 

 them otherwise. 



The EYKA CAT (Felis eyra) is enumerated as a North American animal, being common 

 in the region near the Rio Grande of Texas. 



THE MARGAY is a very handsome example of the Tiger Cats. The tail is rather more 

 bushy towards the tip than those of the preceding animals, and the spottings are hardly so 



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MARGIAY. Leopardui tiyrintu. 



apt to run into hollow streaks or links. It will be observed that the spots are small and 

 numerous towards the hind quarters. 



It is, when caught young and properly treated, a very docile and affectionate animal, 

 although it has been slanderously described as a wholly untamable and ferocious beast. Mr. 

 Waterton mentions, in one of his essays on natural history, that when he was in Guiana he 

 possessed a Margay which had been captured by a negro while still a kitten. It was nurtured 

 with great care, and became so fond of its master that it would follow him about like a dog. 

 Against the rats which inhabited the house, this Margay waged incessant war, creeping about 

 the staircase in search of the destructive rodents, and pouncing with unerring aim on any rat 

 that was unfortunate enough to make its appearance from out of its hiding-place behind the 

 casements. 



With an instinctive knowledge of rats and their habits, the Margay was accustomed to 

 choose the closing hours of day as its best hunting time. The creature's assistance in rat- 

 killing was most useful, for, during the owner's absence, the rats had gained entrance to his 

 house, and, finding no one there to oppose their devices, took possession, and roamed about 

 the rooms at their own will. Thirty-two doors had been gnawed through by the chisel -edged 

 teeth of the rats, and many of the valuable window-frames had suffered irreparable damage 

 from these long-tailed pests. 



THE very handsome animal which is known by the name of Rimau-dahan, or more 

 popularly as the Clouded or Tortoise-shell Tiger, was, until comparatively late years, * 



