A STEP-CHILD OF NATURE. 85 



the sneaking ocelot explores the inmost penetralia of 

 the liana-maze : if he meets them, he meets his death. 

 Carnivora have to combine caution with sudden swift- 



A NEW DEPARTURE. 



ness to catch 

 a monkey in 

 daytime, but 

 sloth - hunting 

 is a search 

 rather than a 

 chase ; small 

 palm - cats or 

 sluggish bears may take a morning ramble through 

 the branches of his chosen tree, and if they espy the 

 poor leaf-eater his capture follows as a matter of course; 

 they need not pursue him, they can collar him at their 

 leisure ; a hungry bear collects a family of sloths as he 

 would gather a bunch of grapes. 



There is a weasel-like animal allied to the Mustela 



7 



