The Cat Tribe. 89 



follow up its attack, and arrives within springing 

 distance of its intended victim, it cowers and shrinks 

 away if a bold front be shown, appearing unable to 

 withstand the gaze of the human eye. 



The food of the puma is much the same as that of 

 the jaguar, the peccary and the capybara being especial 

 favourites with it. 



The various species of Felidai, called TIGER-CATS, 

 include several pretty and graceful animals, such as 

 the Ocelots, the Margay, the Rimau-Dahan, and the 

 Chad. 



The Ocelots are all inhabitants of tropical America 

 the most abundant species being that known as the 

 Common Ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis). This animal 

 is a singularly pretty one, some four feet in length, 

 from the nose to the tip of the tail, and standing about 

 eighteen inches in height at the shoulder. The 

 ground colour is a delicate greyish fawn, marked with 

 broken bands of darker fawn edged with black. Along 

 the spine runs an unbroken black line. The ears are 

 black, with the exception of a white spot upon the back. 



In consequence of the handsome markings and 

 delicate fur, the skins of these animals are much sought 

 after. 



Another species is the Grey Ocelot (Leopardus 

 griseits), which is of a lighter colour than the preceding 

 animal, the spots, also, being less numerous and dis- 

 tinct. All the species are very quick and active in 

 their movements, and in form and habits strongly 

 resemble miniature leopards. 



OUR own domestic cat, really a descendant from 

 the Egyptian animal (Fells vianiculata), is generally 

 supposed to have sprung from the Wild Cat ( Felis 

 catus), which at one time was very abundant in this 

 country. In the olden times, when hunting and war- 

 fare were almost the sole occupation of the upper 



