78 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



(Tiger of the branches). Its ordinary food consists of birds and the 

 smaller beasts, and although from its lithe activity and long fangs it 

 would be a deadly foe to man if so disposed, it appears never to attack 

 him, and is not considered in any way an objectionable animal except 

 for its attacks on poultry. 



Very little, however, is known of the creature's habits, and it is 

 not at all common in captivity, although occasional specimens have 

 reached Europe during many years past, and several have been ex- 

 hibited at our Zoological Gardens. The last shown there was a 

 female, and was a charmingly tame animal, as affectionate with her 

 keeper as the most confidential ordinary Cat. This amiable disposition 

 has been repeatedly noticed in these animals, and, in some cases at all 

 events, they have proved friendly even with children, which is not by 

 any means always the case with wild beasts, even when they are safe 

 with adults. 



In captivity heavy meat like beef and horse-flesh is unsuitable to 

 this creature, and it is always best to give it goat's flesh or mutton, 

 or preferably rabbits, pigeons, and such-like light and tender articles 

 of food. It also needs a large cage fitted up with branches for climb- 

 ing, so as to be able to exercise its remarkable agility, which is almost 

 equal to that of a Squirrel. 



THE OCELOT 



{Felis pardalis) 



In the marbled character of its coat, and in having dark eyes and a pink nose, 

 the Ocelot of South America somewhat resembles the Clouded Leopard, but it 

 is a very differently-built animal, having much the proportions of an ordinary 

 Cat, though it is particularly stout and heavy in build. Although considerably 

 smaller than any of the big Cats, it is a good-sized animal, about equalling a 

 medium-sized Dog. Its colour and pattern are astonishingly variable, some speci- 

 mens being brown and others grey, while the precise size and pattern of the 

 colour-markings vary enormously, this being the most variable in colour of coat 

 of all the Cats, as far as details of marking are concerned, though extremes like 

 black and white do not occur. In general, however, the markings take the form 



