I.S2 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



There are innumerable accounts by reliable 

 men of instances where Jaguars have attacked 

 and killed human beings of their own accord. 

 There are, too, many records showing that they 

 have turned and charged when come upon, or 

 when being pursued by hunters. It is the present 

 observer's opinion, however, that, in the majority 

 of cases, if they are given an option on the safe 

 side of retreat they are more inclined to make 

 oft'. If the Jaguar does intend to attack, he 

 usually does so at once, and without the usual 

 warning of the Lion and Tiger, which is indi- 

 cated by throwing the tail up, baring the teeth 

 and uttering violent growls. The great spotted 

 Cat runs with belly almost to the ground with 

 incredible rapidity until it is within a few feet of 

 its adversary, then springs to the shoulders, while 

 it sinks its fangs in the neck and lacerates the 

 body with its great claws. 



Conditions being favorable, the female, after 

 attaining the age of three years, brings forth 

 from two to four cubs yearly (two being the 

 usual number), which are about loo davs in 

 gestation, and which when about two or three 

 weeks old are able to follow the mother. Jaguars 

 are monogamous, both the male and female 

 assisting in bringing up the young. At the end 

 of a year they usually shift for themselves, but 

 it is about five years before they attain their full 

 growth. The splendid male Jaguar. " .Senor 

 Lopez." was presented to the New York Zoo- 

 logical Park in 1901 ; he was full grown when he 



arrived, so that at the present writing he must 

 be at least twenty-one. 



The Jaguar and Puma frequently occupy the 

 same range, and there seems to be a decided 

 enmity between them ; though the Puma is con- 

 sidered less formidable and less daring, it is, 

 nevertheless, the occasional persecutor of its 

 neighbor. 



Like all animals with retractile claws, the 

 Jaguar delights in sharpening them, as it is called ; 

 but it is not for this purpose that it scratches 

 the bark on either side of a tree trunk. The 

 object of this practice is to tear off the ragged 

 ends and to cleanse them, and not for the pur- 

 pose of sharpening them, as is generally sup- 

 posed. Some assert that each animal has an 

 especial tree to which he repairs for the pur- 

 ]30se, and a common method of ascertaining if 

 a Jaguar is in the neighborhood is to examine 

 the trunks of the trees. 



Next to hunting the Lion or the Tiger there is 

 no more thrilling sport than the pursuit of the 

 -\nierican Tiger. Sportsmen and lovers of ani- 

 mal life are giving more attention to this superb 

 animal, finding that transportation of the present 

 day makes it possible to explore his haunts within 

 the space of a few days. There is still much to 

 learn about this splendid beast, and those who 

 will go and live with him in his native haunts, 

 as the writer has done, may bring back some- 

 thing that the others have failed to note. 



Daniel J. Singer. 



OCELOT 

 Felis pardalis Liinucns 



Other Names. — Tiger Cat, Leopard Cat, Spotted 

 Cat. 



General Description. — A medium-sized Cat smaller 

 than the Lynx, with a long slender body, and tail less 

 than half the length of head and body. Form typically 

 cat-like; color pattern striking, made up of irregular 

 stripes and bands of black running lengthwise on a 

 tan or rufus ground color; ears without tufts. 



Dental Forrhula. — Incisors, ^~ ; Canines, ~ ', 



Premolars, ^^ ; Molars, i^ ^ 50. 

 2—2 I— I ^ 



Pelage. — Se.xes similar. No noticeable seasonal 



variation. Young spotted. Color variable, typical style 



with upper parts rufous, marked with black lines and 



spots, some of the latter with rufous centers; flanks 



and loins yellowish white, striped with rufous, margined 



with black: legs spotted with black on light buflfy 

 ground color ; feet buft'y-white ; cheeks covered by two 

 black lines ; chin, throat, breast and belly white, the 

 last two spotted with black ; tail dark buff banded and 

 spotted with black, tip blackish. Hair close, glossy and 

 soft. 



Measurements. — Length, 38 inches; tail, 15 inches. 

 Weight, J() pounds. 



Range. — Texas from Red River southward in 

 forested regions. 



Food. — Small mammals and birds. 



Remarks. — Like the Jaguar, the Ocelot is a southern 

 visitor, Texas being its northern limit. No two skins 

 of this animal are ever just alike, so variable are the 

 pattern and the coloration, but so characteristic are its 

 markings that it need be confused with no other .Amer- 

 ican Cat. Only one species crosses over into Te.xas. 



