THE MARGAY. 



'85 



bold black streaks drawn upon it, extending towards the shoulders. These streaks are 

 branch-like in form, and are very clearly defined. The spots that run along the spine 

 are solid, and of a deep velvety black. 



When in captivity, the Ocelot seems to prefer birds and rabbits, or similar creatures, 

 to any other food, and is able to strip the feathers from the bird before it begins its 

 meal. The head appears to be its favorite morsel, and, with the head, the Ocelot gen- 

 erally commences its meal. The reader may remember that the jaguar, mentioned on 

 page 174, had decapitated the fowls which it had snatched from the steward, and had 

 eaten their heads before they could be reclaimed. 



The MARGAY is a very handsome example of the Tiger Cats. The tail is rather 

 more bushy towards the tip than those of the preceding animals, and the spottings are 

 hardly so apt to run into hollow streaks or links. It will be observed that the spots 

 are small and numerous towards the hind quarters. 



MARQAY. teopanfus 



It is, when caught young and properly treated, a very docile and affectionate animal, 

 although it has been slanderously described as a wholly untameable and ferocious beast. 

 Mr. Waterton mentions, in one of his essays on natural history, that when he was in 

 Guiana he possessed a Margay which had been captured by a negro while still a kitten. 

 It was nurtured with great care, and became so fond of its master that it would follow 

 him about like a dog. Against the rats which inhabited the house, this Margay waged 

 incessant war, creeping about the staircase in search of the destructive rodents, and 

 pouncing with unerring aim on any rat that was unfortunate enough to make its appear- 

 ance from out of its hiding-place behind the casements. 



With an instinctive knowledge of rats and their habits, the Margay was accustomed 

 to choose the closing hours of day as its best hunting time. The creature's assistance 

 in rat-killing was most useful, for, during the owner's absence, the rats had gained 

 entrance to his house, and, finding no one there to oppose their devices, took posses- 

 sion, and roamed about the rooms at their own will. Thirty-two doors had been gnawed 

 through by the chisel-edged teeth of the rats, and many of the valuable window-frames 

 had suffered irreparable damage from these long-tailed pests. 



