246 THE OCELOT. 



each enclosing a large yellow spot. The colour arid arrange- 

 ment of the markings are apt to vary in different specimens. 



Ocelots reside much upon trees, like the wild cat, and pursue 

 their prey to the topmost branches, or dart down upon it with 

 the greatest precision. Possessing considerable agility and 

 strength, they easily capture the monkeys, deer, and other 

 mammals upon which they prey. Instances have occurred 

 of the ocelot attacking man, but seldom, for this species is 

 naturally timid and cowardly, though when hunted and over- 

 taken it offers the most determined resistance. 



In captivity, the ocelot in general becomes only imperfectly 

 tame. D'Azara, however, mentions one which was so com- 

 pletely domesticated as to be given unbounded liberty j it 

 was strongly attached to its master, and never attempted to 

 decamp. About eleven years ago the Tower of London con- 

 tained a male ocelot, which also was " perfectly good tempered, 

 exceedingly fond of play, and had, indeed, much of the 

 character and manners of the domestic cat. It was princi- 

 pally fed upon rabbits and birds, the latter of which it plucked 

 with the greatest dexterity, and always commenced its meal 

 with their heads, of which it appeared to be particularly fond. 

 It did not eat with the ravenous avidity which characterizes 

 nearly all the animals of its tribe."* 



The Duke de Choiseul, minister to Louis the Fifteenth, 

 s recorded to have had a favourite ocelot constantly in his 

 cabinet. 



The two ocelots from which BufFon wrote his description 

 of the species were brought from Carthagena, and having 

 been taken from their dam when they were very young, they 

 were suckled by a bitch 5 but, before they were three months 

 old, they killed and devoured their foster parent. After this 

 ungrateful butchery they exhibited habits of great fierceness, 

 and a continual propensity for slaughter. The male never 

 allowed the female to partake of a meal till his own appetite 

 was satisfied. 



* The Tower Menagerie (1829), p. 56. 



