THE OCELOT. 



neck towards the moulder point; and the rump is marked in the fame 

 manner. The legs are whitifli, and marked with fmall black fpots ; the tail 

 is marked with black fpots near the bafe, and black lines towards the 

 extremity. The colours of the female are in general fainter, though the 

 markings are like the male. 



The Ocelot is ftrongly made, and very voracious ; it is fearful of mankind, 

 but preys on young Calves (a) and different kinds of game. It frequents 

 mountainous places, where it lurks among the leaves of trees, extending 

 itfelf along the branches, as if it were dead, till the Monkeys (b,) tempted 

 by their natural inquifitivenefs, approach too near to examine it, and fall a 

 facrifice to their ram curiofity. It is afraid of Dogs, and flies to the woods 

 when it is purfued by them Like the Tiger, it prefers the blood of animals 

 to their flelh, which it leaves untouched; great numbers, therefore, are 

 destroyed, to fatisfy its hunger. 



The Ocelot is impatient of captivity : when under confinement, it is in 

 perpetual motion, and nothing can tame the fiercenefs of its nature: it returns 

 the carefles of its keeper by favage growls, which fufflciently indicate its 

 vindictive fpirit. 



This animal inhabits Mexico, the neighbourhood of Carthagena, and 

 Brafil. 



(a) Dampier's Voy. ii. 62- 



(b) Hernandez Mex. 514. 



