FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



smaller than most of the southern Jaguars and much smaller 

 than the big Jaguar of southern Brazil. 



The Jaguar is a formidable beast of prey, quite capable of 

 carrying off a man, although the northern variety does not 

 seem to be aggressive and the only records of attack upon man 

 show provocation. Like most of the Cat family, this animal 

 is secretive and wary in habits and is seldom seen. It travels 

 long distances in search of prey and the fact that it has been 

 reported as far north as central California and Colorado would 

 indicate that it may roam far from its usual haunts. 



This Cat is a jungle dweller and prefers dense thickets and 

 heavy growths of vegetation. It climbs trees upon occasion, 

 but is probably not so given to this as the Cougar. The call 

 of the Jaguar is a hoarse cough or short roar suggestive of 

 great strength and power, made up of a repetition of guttural 

 notes, recorded as "uh, uh, uh, uh." 



The young are born in April or May and number from two 

 to four. The cubs are more heavily spotted than the adults 

 and their coat is woollier. 



Ocelot. — Felis pardalis grifRthii (Fischer) 



Names. — Ocelot ; Tiger-cat ; Leopard-cat. Plate XVI. 



General Description. — A medium-sized, spotted or marbled 

 Cat, with a fairly long tail. Head and body like a large, over- 

 grown House-cat; limbs fairly long; tail slightly less than half 

 as long as body; pelage short and close; color pattern gray 

 and buff marked with much black. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; no marked seasonal variation 

 but a wide range of individual variation. 



Upperparts buffy to gray, heavily spotted and marked 

 with small rings, blotches, and short bars; underparts white 

 spotted with black; tail spotted and ringed with black; black 

 markings along back and sides, usually arranged as broken 

 lines or chains. 



Immature generally with more black than adults. 



Measurements. — Males larger than females. Total length, 

 males, 50 inches; females, 40 inches; tail vertebras, males, 15 

 inches, females, 13 inches; hind foot, males, 5.5 inches, females, 

 5 inches; weight about 25-35 pounds. 



Geographical Distribution. — Of southern distribution and! 

 crossing into the United States only in southwestern Texas.] 



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