THE OCELOT. 



183 



It is sufficiently fierce in its wild state to be an unchancy opponent if wounded or 

 otherwise irritated. When in captivity, its temper seems rather capricious, depending in 

 all probability on the individuality of the animal, or the treatment of its keepers. Some 

 of these creatures are always fierce and surly, setting up a savage growl when any one 

 approaches their cage, spitting at the visitor like an angry cat, and striking sharp, quick 

 blows with the paws. Others, again, are as quiet and well-behaved as the generality 

 of domestic cats, like to be noticed, and, if they think that the visitor is about to pass 

 by their cage without recognizing them, call his attention by a gracious purr, and rub- 

 bing themselves against the bars. They will even offer themselves to be stroked and 

 patted, and will bow their heads, just as a cat does on feeling the touch of a friendly hand. 



The GRAY OCELOT is so called on account of the comparatively light hue of the fur. 

 The spots are not quite so numerous nor so bold as in the preceding animal, and the 

 throat is remarkable for its whitish-gray tint, unbroken by spots or streaks. All these 

 creatures are found in tropical America. 



The Ocelot soon learns to distinguish friends from foes, and can easily be brought to 

 a state of partial tameness. 



Several of these animals, when I first made their acquaintance, were rather crabbed 

 in disDOsition, snarled at the sound of a strange step, growled angrily at my approach, 



OCELOT. Leopard us Pttrdalis. 



and behaved altogether in a very unsocial manner, in spite of many amicable over- 

 tures. After awhile, I saw that these creatures were continually and vainly attempting 

 the capture of certain flies which buzzed about the cage. So I captured a few large 

 blue-bottle flies, and poked them through a small aperture in the cage, so that the 

 Ocelot's paw might not be able to reach my hand. At first, the Ocelots declined to 

 make any advances in return for the gift, but they soon became bolder, and at last freely 

 took the flies as fast as they were caught. The ice was now broken, and in a very 

 short time we were excellent friends, the angry snarl being exchanged for a compla- 

 cent purr, and the suspicious shrinking movements for a quiet and composed demeanor. 



The climax to their change of character was reached by giving them a few leaves of 

 grass, for which they were, as I thought they would be, more anxious than for the flies. 

 They tore the green blades out of my hand, and retired to their sleeping-house for the 

 purpose of eating the unaccustomed dainty undisturbed. After this they were quite 

 at their ease, and came to the front of the cage whenever I passed. 



Every one who has watched the habits of the domestic cat must have noticed how 

 thankful she seems for a few leaves of grass. It is curious that a carnivorous animal 

 should be so impelled by instinct as to turn for a time to vegetable food, and to become 

 for the nonce, a herbivorous creature. Dogs, it is well known, will resort to the same 

 plant, and appear to use in a medicinal point of view. 



