NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



MoiJe of defence Description of the ocelot. 



When attacked by a dog it lies down on its 

 back, and defends itself desperately with its 

 claws, and in this posture frequently repels the 

 assailant. 



The lynx resides in all the northern parts both 

 of the old and the new continent. It is seldom 

 found in very warm, or even temperate countries, 

 but prefers the cold regions of the north. The 

 largest and most beautiful of these creatures are 

 found near the lake Balkash, in Tartary, where a 

 small skin is commonly sold for a pound sterling. 



A variety of fables were invented by the an- 

 cients respecting this animal, particularly that its 

 sight could penetrate through stone walls, Sec. ; 

 but these are too absurd and romantic to require 

 a serious refutation. 



THE OCELOT 



IN shape resembles the domestic cat ; but it 

 is considerably larger, being sometimes two feet 

 and a half high, and four feet in length. 



This animal, particularly the male, is extremely 

 beautiful, its fur being elegantly variegated. The 

 general colour is a bright tawny ; the forehead 

 and legs are spotted with black, and a stripe of 

 the same colour extends along the top of the 

 back. The shoulders, sides, and rump are pret- 

 tily marbled with long stripes of black, forming 

 vval figures, filled in the middle with small black 



