4o6 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



Inclusive of these local varieties and colour -phases, the ocelot may 

 be described as a variable blotched cat, inferior in size to the common lynx, 

 with a tail less than half the length ot the head and body. Typically the 

 coloration of the upper-parts may be described as consisting of a rufous 

 ground marked with black lines and spots, some of which enclose irregular 

 blotches of a darker shade ot rutous than the general ground-colour. On 

 the flanks and hind-quarters the general hue changes to yellowish white 

 blotched with black-margined patches of rufous ; the legs being pale buff 

 spotted with black, and the feet huffish white. The two black streaks 

 so common among the smaller cats are seen on the cheeks ; the chin 

 and throat, as well as the black-spotted breast and under-parts, are 

 white ; and the tail has a ground-colour ot deep buff, banded and spotted 

 with black, and its tip wholly sable. The length of the head and body 

 varies between 26 and 33 inches, and that of the tail between i i and 

 15 inches. The typical form of the species comes, as already said, from 

 Mexico. The Guatemala ocelot {F. pardalis griseii) has the ground-colour 

 ot the tur grey, tending in some instances to whitish on the flanks. 

 Several examples of this grey phase of the species are known, which display 

 variations in the spotting similar to those found in the typical fulvous form. 

 Another grey phase, from some part of tropical America, has been described 

 as Felis pardoides. It is one of the smaller forms of the species, the head 

 and body measuring 26 and the tail 13 inches in length. It differs from 

 grtsea in the less ring-like form of the spots on the flanks, the shorter 

 and less distinct neck-stripes, and the more rufous ground-colour of the fur 

 on the neck. The painted ocelot (F. pardalis picta) is a large Central 

 American form coloured less brilliantly than in the typical race, with 

 the spots placed further apart, and less difference between the central areas 

 of the latter and the general ground-colour. Another variety, of which 

 the locality appears to be unknown, has been described as F. nielamira ; 

 it is characterised by its brilliant coloration, the ground-colour being 



