OCELOT 



Food. — Small mammals, birds, and reptiles. 



Enemies. — Probably very few because of its ability to 



escape. 



******* 



Like the Jaguar, only the one species of Ocelot is known to 

 occur north of the Rio Grande. In Central and South 

 America the Ocelots are a large and widely distributed group. 



' ' In the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas the tiger-cat is 

 rather common, with the eyra-cat, in areas densely overgrown 

 with thorny chaparral. Like most of the cat tribe, it is 

 strictly nocturnal and by day lies well hidden in its brushy 

 shelter. By night it wanders along trails over a considerable 

 territory, seeking its prey. Birds of all kinds, including 

 domestic poultry, are captured on their roosts, and rabbits, 

 wood rats, and mice of many kinds, as well as snakes and 

 other reptiles, are on its list of game. 



"The tiger-cat is much more quiet and less fierce in dis- 

 position than most felines. . . . 



' ' The tiger-cat brings within our fauna an interesting touch 

 of the tropics and its exuberance of animal life. It is found 

 in so small a corner of our territory, however, that, despite 

 its mainly inoffensive habits, it is certain to be crowded out in 

 the near future by the increased occupation of its haunts." 

 (Nelson, Wild Animals of North America, p. 416.) 



The scanty records on breeding habits of the Ocelot indi- 

 cate but two young to a litter, and the date of birth Septem- 

 ber or October. 



Jaguarundi. — Felis cacomitli Berlandier 



Names. — Jaguarundi; Cacomitl Cat; Eyra (in red phase); 

 Red and Gray Cat. Plate XVI. 



General Description. — A small, unspotted Cat with long, 

 otter-like body; head comparatively small; legs short; body 

 slender; tail long. 



Color. — Occurring in two distinct color phases; some sea- 

 sonal variation. 



Gray phase. — Everywhere grizzled smoky gray, a mixture 

 of black, buff and whitish to give pepper-and-salt appear- 

 ance; underparts slightly paler than upperparts but no 

 marked contrast between the two; winter pelage with more 

 black than in summer. 



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