THE SERVALS. 
89 
“Are there any other tiger-cats, aunt, be¬ 
sides those in South America?” 
“Yes, several. There is a small variety, 
inhabiting Java and Sumatra, which are as 
beautiful as the ocelot and margay, and 
considerably smaller. They are said by the 
natives to possess great sagacity, and to have 
the power of imitating the voices of fowls 
and other birds in order that they may ap¬ 
proach them unobserved. They are especially 
wild and fierce, and can never be tamed, either 
by hunger, darkness, or kind treatment. Mr. 
Tenminck, a celebrated traveller and natu¬ 
ralist, kept two of them for two years; but, 
though he tried every means to gain their 
confidence, they always remained crouched 
in the darkest corner of their den, and 
never came out unless pressed by hunger. 
“ There are also the servals, of which there 
are several varieties, one of which is of a 
deep-brown colour. They are all about the 
same size,—that of a small leopard,—and 
seem to be rather gentle and amiable in 
their temper. One which Mr. Frederick 
Cuvier describes was very gentle and affec¬ 
tionate, 4 and sported entirely after the man¬ 
ner of a common cat, attempting often to 
8 * 
