62 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE OCELOT.* 



This extremely beautiful Cat (see previous page) is, like the Jaguar and the Ounce, a native of 

 America where it is found throughout the central part of the Continent, from Mexico and Texas 

 on the north, to the northern boundaries of Brazil on the south. Its musical name was coined by 

 Buffon as an abbreviation of its native Mexican appellation Tlalocelotl. 



The grey or tawny skin is marked by broadly-sweeping rows of longitudinally elongated spots of 

 lar-e size eacii consisting of a black rim enclosing an area somewhat darker than the general 

 ground thit. The head is also beautifully striped, and the tail ringed with black. Altogether, the 



MARBLED TIGER-CAT. 



Ocelot is, in the matter of markings, second only to the Clouded Tiger. It is about four feet lor 

 from the snout to the tip of the tail, and its legs are rather short for its size. 



" It is a very voracious animal, but at the same time timid. It rarely attacks men. It is afraid of 

 Dogs, and when pursued it makes off to the woods and climbs a tree. There it remains, and even takes 

 up its abode to sleep and look out for game and cattle, upon which it darts as soon as they are within 

 range. It prefers the blood to the flesh, and, in consequence, destroys a vast number of animals, for 

 instead of devouring them, it only quenches its thirst by sucking their blood." t 



Notwithstanding its cowardice, the Ocelot is a very savage animal. Buffon mentions a pair of 

 young ones in captivity, which, at the age of three months, were sufficiently strong and cruel to 

 kill and devour a bitch who had been given them as a' nurse. He further adds the curious fact, that 

 the male always kept the female in wonderful subjection, so much so, that she was afraid even to 

 attempt to eat until he was completely satisfied. 



* Fdis partial. 



Buffon. 



