Ocelot 405 



be best distinguished from the other representatives of the species found in 

 North America by its long limbs, small feet, and rich ferruginous colour. 

 From the typical race it is so different as to stand in need of no detailed 

 comparison. Apparently there is no seasonal change in the colour of the 

 coat, which on the back is ferruginous, finely lined with blackish, while on 

 the flanks it becomes paler and of a more fawn tint. The skull presents 

 the general character of that of the Rocky Mountain race, although it 

 appears to be slightly narrower. A three-quarter-grown kitten was marked 

 on the back with irregular dusky spots. 



Mr. Bangs is of opinion that this race is now restricted to the pen- 

 insula of Florida, where at present, at least, it is isolated from all the 

 other forms of the species. 



THE OCELOT 



[Fclis pardalis) 



(Plate VIII. Fig. 8) 



The next largest of the true cats of America is the ocelot, which is 

 exceedingly variable in its coloration, and is mainly a southern form, 

 although it was originally described by Linnsus on the evidence ot a 

 Mexican specimen, and ranges as far north as the Red River in Texas. On 

 the east of the Andes its range extends southwards as far as Buenos Aires. 

 With such a wide range in latitude, it might naturally be expected that the 

 species would be represented by several local races, and such is undoubtedly 

 the case, several of these local forms having received distinct names. The 

 distribution, number, and characteristics of these local races still remain, 

 however, to be worked out (and there is not sufficient material for this to 

 be done properly in England), and accordingly they are not given separate 

 headings in the present work. 



