242 



WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



to believe are mere coincidences, although in 

 some cases their protective significance is by no 

 means clear. Thus the ocelots and kindred cats 

 of Central and South America have parallel 

 curved bands running the length of the body, 

 which also appear to become merged into an 



Boa and occlol. 



apparent spiral when these animals are curled 

 up. These lines are not black, as in the case 

 of our tabbies, nor is the q;eneral arrangement 

 of the markings the same in the two classes 

 of animals. They consist of chains of blotches 

 somewhat lighter in the centre than at the out- 

 side, and these linear mottlincrs, stranoe to re- 

 late, are almost exactly similar in size, shape, 

 and colour to the markings upon the backs of 

 certain of the most formidable serpents of the 



