210 THE OCELOT. 



times made her escape from confinement, and exhi- 

 bited a power of climbing trees with great ease and 

 activity. She has occasionally committed consider- 

 able havoc in the poultry-yard, and has more than 

 once greatly alarmed a horse by jumping on its back 

 in the stable. In this last feat, however, the Ocelot 

 seemed to be actuated rather by a desire for society 

 than the love of mischief, for she coiled herself up 

 on the hind quarter, evidently with the view of ef- 

 fecting a settlement for the purpose of repose : but 

 the plunging of the horse induced her to use her 

 claws to render her seat more secure. Upon this 

 the steed, as might be expected, redoubled his exer- 

 tions to dislodge the enemy, and the Ocelot was at 

 last thrown, receiving in her descent a kick which 

 sha never afterwards forgot ; for it has been since 

 observed, that, on seeing a horse, she immediately 

 betakes herself to her den. A house-dog and ' puss' 

 speedily acquired a knowledge of each other's powers, 

 and neither seemed disposed to court an attack. It 

 is believed, however, that no dog could have any 

 chance with this animal : her jaws would have crush- 

 ed at once any bone in its body. A few days be- 

 ,bre her departure from Liverpool to London, she 

 occasioned a serious alarm. Being secured by a 

 long chain, in front of a cottage door, she suddenly 

 threw down a young girl of four years old, and, to 

 the horror of the beholders, appeared to seize the 

 child by the throat. This was, however, intended 

 merely as play, tor neither ner siiarp teeth nor crook- 



