184 



THE PAINTED OCELOT. 



GRAY OCELOT. Leopard us Griseus. 



The eye of the Ocelot is a pale yellowish brown, and tolerably full, with the linear 

 pupil that is found in the smaller felidae. 



There are several species of these pretty and agile animals, among which the most 

 conspicuous are the common, the gray, and painted Ocelots, and the Margay, or 

 Marjay, as it is sometimes called. The habits of these animals are very similar. 



In its native woods, the Ocelot seeks its food, chiefly among the smaller mammalia 

 and birds, although it is sufficiently powerful to attack and destroy a moderately sized 

 monkey. The monkeys it can chase into the tree branches, being nearly as expert 

 a climber as themselves but, as it cannot follow the birds into their airy region, it is 

 forced to match its cunning against their wings. As is often done by the domestic cat, 

 the Ocelot can spring among a flock of birds as they rise from the ground, and, leaping 

 into the air, strike down one of them with its rapid paw. But its chief method of ob- 

 taining birds is by concealing itself among the branches of a tree, and suddenly knock- 

 ing them over as they come and settle unsuspiciously within reach of the hidden foe. 



PAINTED OCELOT. Leopardus. 



The PAINTED OCELOT resembles the preceding animal in the general aspect of its 

 fur, but is marked in a richer manner. 



The spots are more numerous, closer together, and more uniform than those of the 

 common Ocelot. The black markings of the tail are of a very deep hue indeed, and oc- 

 cupy a large portion of that member. The throat is grayish white, with one or two very 



