10 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Wild-cats. 



we have seen others very gentle, though playful and 

 animated. Lawson, who, in his ' History of Caro- 

 lina,' well describes the puma, is therefore in error 

 when he states that " when taken young it is never 

 to be reclaimed from its wild nature." This writer 

 says, " The panther (puma) climbs trees with the 

 greatest agility imaginable, is very strong-limbed, 

 catching a piece of meat from any animal he strikes 

 at ; his tail is exceeding long ; his eyes look very 

 fierce and lively, are large, and of a grayish colour; 

 his prey is swine's-fiesh, deer, or anything he can 

 take. He halloos like a man in the woods when 

 killed, which is by makinghim take to a tree, as the 

 least cur will presently do ; then the huntsmen 

 •sheot him ; if they do not kill him outright he is a 

 dangerous enemy when wounded, especially to the 

 dogs that approach him. This beast is the greatest 

 enemy to the planter of any vermin in Carolina. 

 His flesh looks as well as any shamble's meat what- 

 soever: a great many people eat him as choice food, 

 but I never tasted of a panther, so cannot commend 

 the meat by my own experience. His skin is a 

 warm covering for the Indians in winter, though 

 not esteemed "among the choice furs. This skin 

 dressed makes fine women's shoes or men's gloves." 



The puma is indeed a very destructive animal : 

 not only the peccary and the capybara fall a prey 

 •to his destructive habits, but sheep, hogs, and cattle 

 are among his victims ; of the former he has been 

 known to kill fifty in a single night. It is not often 

 that the puma attacks man, though when wounded 

 foe becomes a dangerous foe. Sir F. Head, in his 

 * Journey across the Pampas,' gives the following 

 interesting narrative, in proof of the fear of man 

 which this animal, in common with others, enter- 

 tains. The person who related it to Sir Francis 

 was himself the actor in the scene. 



" He was trying to shoot some wild ducks, and, in 

 order to approach them unperceived, he put the 

 comer of his poncho, (which is a sort of long narrow 

 blanket) over his head, and, crawling along the 

 ground upon his hands and knees, the poncho not 

 only covered his body, but trailed along the ground 

 behind him. As he was thus creeping by a large 

 bush of reeds, he heard a loud sudden noise, between 

 a bark and a roar : he felt something heavy strike 

 his feet, and, instantly jumping up, he saw, to his 

 astonishment, a large lion actually standing on his 

 poncho ; and, perhaps, the animal was equally asto- 

 nished to find himself in the immediate presence of 

 so athletic a man. The man told me he was un- 

 willing to fire, as his gun was loaded with very 

 small shot ; and he therefore remained motionless, 

 the lion standing on his poncho for many seconds : 

 at last the creature turned his head, and, walking 

 very slowly away about ten yards, he stopped and 

 turned again : the man still maintained his ground, 

 upon which the lion tacitly acknowledged his 

 supremacy, and walked off." (Fig. 45.) 



Audubon in his ' Ornithological Biography,' gives 

 a, spirited account of the chase of the puma, or 

 cougar as he terms it, which was hunted by dogs, 

 and men armed with rifles : it was driven by their 

 united exertions from tree to tree, and perished, 

 fighting with the dogs, having received several 

 balls, one of which produced a mortal wound. On 

 the Pampas the puma is hunted with dogs, and, 

 while it is engaged in the conflict surrounded by 

 them, the dexterous Gaucho strikes him senseless 

 with his bolas, or throws his lasso over him, and, 

 galloping off, drags him along the ground till almost 

 lifeless, when the dogs rush upon him and tear him 

 to pieces. 47 ^ 4gj 50 __ The ocelot 



(Felis pardalis). This elegantly-marked species 

 of tiger-cat is a native of Mexico, Paraguay, and 

 probably of Peru. It measures nearly three feet in 

 the length of the head and body, the tail is about a 

 foot long, and the medium height is about eighteen 

 inches. The ground-colour of the fur is grey, 

 slio-htly tinged with fawn ; upon this are disposed 

 longitudinal bands, of which the margins are per- 

 fectly black, the central parts being of a deeper 

 fawn than the general ground. These ribands of 

 black, enclosing a deep fawn, become deep black 

 lines and spots on the neck and head and on the 

 outer aspect of the limbs. From the top of the head 

 towards the shoulders there pass several diverging 

 black bands, and on the top of the back the line is 

 quite continuous. The tail is spotted upon a ground 

 like that of the body. The term ocelot is a corrup- 

 tion of the Mexican names Tlacoozelotl, or Tlalo- 

 celotl, as given by Hernandez, who terms it Catus 

 vardus Mexicanus. 



The ocelot is often exhibited in menageries, and 

 is generally good-tempered and playful : we have 

 seen several which might be said to be perfectly 

 domesticated. Bewick states that " nothing can 

 soften the natural ferocity of its disposition, nor 

 calm the restlessness of its motions. One of these 

 animals, shown at Newcastle in 1788, although 

 extremely old, exhibited great marks of ferocity. 

 It was kept closely confined, and would not admit 



of being caressed by its keeper." Harsh usage and 

 close confinement have often spoiled the temper of 

 animals, and the fault is always laid to their dis- 

 position, and not to mismanagement. Mr. Bennett 

 informs us that a specimen which was kept in the 

 Tower menagerie was extremely familiar, and had 

 much of the character and manners of the common 

 cat. Its food consisted principally of rabbits and 

 birds ; the latter it plucked with great dexterity, 

 and always commenced its meal with the head, of 

 which it seemed particularly fond ; but it did not 

 eat with the ravenous avidity which characterizes 

 nearly all the animals of this tribe. 



Of the manners of the ocelot in a state of nature 

 little is known. It inhabits the deep forests and 

 preys upon small quadrupeds and birds ; climbing 

 the trees in quest of the latter, and lying in wait for 

 them concealed among the foliage. It is said to 

 take monkeys by a very subtle mode of proceeding. 

 When it perceives a troop of these active creatures, 

 it immediately stretches itself out, as if dead, on the 

 limb of some tree ; urged by curiosity they hasten 

 to examine the supposed " mortal remains" of 

 their enemy, — the foremost pays dearly for his 



curiosity. „ r . 



J 51.— The Chati 



(Felis mitis). The chati is regarded by Des- 

 marest as the chibi-guazu of Azara. It is a native 

 of Paraguay and other parts of South America, and 

 is much smaller than the ocelot. Azara describes 

 it as averaging three feet six inches in total length. 

 The following is Fred. Cuvier's description of a 

 female living in the menagerie of Paris : — " About 

 a third larger than the domestic cat : length, ex- 

 clusive of tail, rather more than two feet ; tail, 

 eleven inches ; height to middle of back, about 

 one foot two inches. Ground-colour of fur on the 

 upper parts, pale yellowish ; on the lower pure 

 white ; at the roots, dull grey, and very thick and 

 close. Body covered with irregular dark patches: 

 those upon the back entirely black and disposed 

 longitudinally in four rows; those upon the sides 

 surrounded with black, with the centres of a 

 clear fawn, arranged in nearly five rows. Spots 

 upon the lower part of the body, where the 

 ground-colour of the fur is white, full, and arranged 

 in two lines composed of six or seven patches on 

 each side. Limbs covered with nearly round spots 

 of smaller dimensions : on the fore-legs, near the 

 body, two transverse bands. On the throat a sort 

 of half collar, and on the under-jaw two crescent- 

 shaped spots. Behind each eye two bands about 

 two inches long, terminating opposite the ear. 

 Forehead bordered by two lines, between which are 

 numerous spots, and, at their origin, a blackish 

 mark from which the whiskers spring. Outside of 

 the ear, black, with a white spot upon the small 

 lobe. Base of the tail spotted with small blotches, 

 which towards the end run into half-rings, which 

 are broadest on the upper surface. Pupil round." 

 (F. Cuv.) 



This animal was extremely gentle and familiar, 

 so much so indeed that, if persons to whom it was 

 attached passed its cage or did not approach it, it 

 would express its discontent or solicit their attention 

 by a short cry; and when caressed it manifested 

 great delight. 



According to Azara, the chibi-guazu is so com- 

 mon, that his friend Noseda captured eighteen indi- 

 viduals in two years within two leagues of his 

 pueblo. Yet it would appear that few are acquainted 

 with the animal, neither the huntsman nor his dogs 

 being able to penetrate its haunts. By day it re- 

 mains concealed in the most impenetrable and 

 secluded places, only coming abroad after dark, 

 especially when the night is stormy. The chibi- 

 guazu then daringly enters courtyards and destroys 

 the poultry or carries them away. When the night 

 is moonlit they do not venture near inhabited spots, 

 and are besides so wary, that it is hopeless to lie in 

 wait for them with a gun. Men and dogs are most 

 cautiously avoided. Each pair is supposed to have 

 their own exclusive range of territory, for a male 

 and female, and no more, are always caught in the 

 same place. Those which Noseda caught soon 

 became reconciled to captivity, and had much of 

 the habits of a cat : nearly the whole of the day 

 they passed in sleep rolled up in ball-like form; 

 twilight and night were passed in pacing to and fro 

 close" to the sides of their den. They never quar- 

 relled unless they were much irritated, and then 

 they struck at each other with their fore-paws; 

 when they crossed or interrupted each other's move- 

 ments in traversing the den, they spit and gesticu- 

 lated like a common cat. They were fed upon 

 various kinds of flesh, rats, fowls, ducks, young dogs, 

 &c. Cats' flesh gave them the mange, under which 

 they soon sank: snakes, vipers, and toads, occa- 

 sioned violent and continued vomiting, under which 

 they wasted away and died. Dogs equalling them- 

 selves in size they would not attack : fowls were their 

 favourite food ; these they caught by the head and 

 neck and instantly killed, stripping their feathers 



before beginning to eat them. In the night their 

 eyes shone like those of a domestic cat, which m 

 their manners, in their mode of helving the fur and 

 cleaning themselves, they entirely resembled. Azara 

 concludes by stating that a young one which Noheda 

 caught became so thoroughly domesticated, that it 

 slept on the skirts of his clerical gown and went 

 about loose. Mo animal could be more tractable ; 

 but the neighbours, among whose poultry it made 

 havoc, killed it. 



52. — The Pampas Cat 



(Felis Pajeros). This species is also called Jungle- 

 cat, and by the Spanish colonists Gato Pajero. 



The fur of this animal is very long, some of the 

 hairs of the back being upwards, of three inches, 

 and those of the hinder part of the back four and a 

 half or nearly five inches long. General colour 

 pale yellow-grey. Numerous irregular yellow or 

 sometimes brown stripes run obliquely from the back 

 along the sides of the body. On each side of the face 

 two stripes of a yellowish or cinnamon colour com- 

 mence near the eye and extend backwards and down- 

 wards over the cheeks, on the hinder part of which 

 they join and form a single line, which encircles the 

 lower part of the throat. Tip of the muzzle and 

 chin white ; a spot in front of the eye, and a line 

 beneath the eye, of the same colour ; belly, inner 

 side and hinder part of fore-legs, white also. An 

 irregular black line running across the lower part of 

 the chest, and extending over the base of the fore- 

 legs externally : above this line two other transverse 

 dark markings more or less defined on the chest. 

 On the fore-legs three broad black bands, two of 

 which encircle the leg : on the posterior legs about 

 five black bands externally, and some irregular dark 

 spots internally. Feet yellowish, and under side of 

 tarsus of a slightly deeper hue. On the belly nume- 

 rous large irregular black spots. Ears moderate, 

 with long white hairs internally ; externally of the 

 same colour as the head, except at the apex, where 

 the hairs are black, and form a slight tuft. Tail 

 short, somewhat bushy, and devoid of dark rings or 

 spots : the hairs are in fact coloured as those on the 

 back. On the upper part of the body each hair is 

 brown at the base, then yellow, and at the apex 

 black. On the hinder part of the back the hairs are 

 almost black at the base, and on the sides of the 

 body each hair is grey at the base ; there is then a 

 considerable space of yellowish-white colour: to- 

 wards the apex they are white, and at the apex 

 black. The greater number of the hairs of the 

 moustaches white. Length, from nose to root of 

 tail, twenty-six inches; of tail, fur included, eleven 

 iuches. Lleight of body at shoulders, thirteen inches. 

 Size about equal to that of the common wild-cat of 

 Europe ; but. the Pampas cat is stouter, its head 

 smaller, and its tail shorter. (Waterhouse.) 



This cat was known to Azara, but till recently 

 European naturalists were but little acquainted 

 with it. Fischer, in his ' Synopsis Mammalium,' 

 put it among those species that are not well deter- 

 mined. Azara says that the natives call this animal 

 gato pajero, because it lives on the plains, conceal- 

 ing itself in jungles without entering the woods or 

 thickets. Whether this species exists in Paraguay, 

 Azara states, was a point he could not determine, 

 but that it might perhaps have been formerly seen 

 there before the country became well peopled. He 

 caught four in the Pampas of Buenos Ayres, be- 

 tween 35° and 36° S. la.t., and three others on the 

 Bio Negro. They are found, he adds, on both sides 

 of La Plata. Its food consists principally of apereas, 

 or wild guinea-pigs. 



According to Mr. Darwin (Zoology of the Beagle), 

 this cat inhabits Santa Cruz, Patagonia, and Bahia 

 Blanca. 



" This animal," observes Mr. Darwin, " takes its 

 name from paja, the Spanish word for ' straw,' 

 from its habits of frequenting reeds. It is common 

 over the whole of the great plains which compose 

 the eastern side of the southern part of America. 

 From the accounts I received I have reason to be- 

 lieve that it is found near the strait of Magellan, 

 which would give it a range of nearly 1400 miles in 

 a north and south line," for Azara states that it is to 

 be found as high north as 30° S. lat. One of Mr. 

 Darwin's specimens was obtained at 50° S. at Santa 

 Cruz : it was met with in a valley where a few 

 thickets were growing. When disturbed it did not 

 run aw r ay, but drew itself up and hissed. The other 

 spec'men which Mr. Darwin brought to England 

 was killed at Bahia Blanca. 



LYNXES. 

 The name of lynxes is applied by zoologists to a 

 subdivision of the Felidse, well marked externally, 

 and regarded by some as entitled to a distinct ge- 

 neric rank. About eight species are described, bue 

 there is still considerable confusion among those 

 which are natives of America. The available cha- 

 racters which the lynxes present consist in the 

 pencils which tuft the ears, in the shortness of the 



