MARGAY.—Leopardus Tigrinus 
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 favourite morsel, and, with the head, the Ocelot generally com- 
mences its meal. The reader may remember that the jaguar, mentioned on page 174, had 
decapitated the fowls which it had snatched from the steward, and had eaten their heads 
before they could be reclaimed. 
The Maraay 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 
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 untameable 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 ereat care, and became so fond of its master that it would follow him about 
like adog. 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 irre- 
parable damage from these long-tailed pests. 
