THE OCELOT. 69 



to him in South America: He was trying to shoot some 

 wild ducks, and, in order to approach them unperceived, he 

 put the corner of his poncho (which is a sort of long narrow 

 blanket) over his head, and crawling along the ground upon 

 his hands and knees, the poncho not only covered his body, 

 but trailed along the ground behind him. As he was thus 

 creeping by a large bush of reeds, he heard a loud, sudden 

 noise, between a bark and a roar: he felt something heavy 

 strike his feet, and, instantly jumping up, he saw, to his 

 astonishment, a large puma actually standing on his poncho ; 

 and, perhaps, the animal was equally astonished to find 

 himself in the immediate presence of so athletic a man. The 

 man told me he was unwilling to fire, as his gun was loaded 

 with very small shot; and he therefore remained motionless, 

 the puma standing on his poncho for many seconds ; at last 

 the creature turned his head, and walking very slowly away 

 about ten yards, he stopped, and turned again : the man still 

 maintained his ground, upon which the puma tacitly acknow- 

 ledged his supremacy, and walked off." 

 The Ocelot. The Ocelot is a native of South America and 

 one of the most beautiful of the Cat family. It is smaller 

 than the Leopard, attaining to about three feet in length, and 

 eighteen inches in height. Its colour is grey, tinged with 

 fawn and the body and legs are covered with longitudinal 

 chainlike stripes broken into patches of some inches. Its 

 habits are like those of its near relations, the Leopard and 

 the Jaguar, though its appetite for blood makes it perhaps 

 even more destructive. It will suck blood with the greatest 

 avidity and frequently leave a carcase otherwise untouched 

 in order to pursue other animals for the sake of more blood. 

 When tame the Ocelot is remarkably playful, climbing up 

 the legs and nestling in the arms of its benefactors. It is 

 apt to be dangerous in a poultry yard but will keep good 

 friends with a house dog, and play, somewhat roughly, per- 

 haps, but without malice, with children. 



