THE MARGAY.[31]
This is also an American species, being found in Brazil and Guiana, where it is often known as the “Tiger-Cat.” It is much smaller than the Ocelot—little larger than the Domestic Cat, in fact—the body being about twenty-three inches long, and the tail thirteen, and resembles the Ocelot in general appearance (see next page). Its spots are, however, smaller, and more regularly arranged, so that it is by no means so handsome an animal asF. pardalis.
It lives in the woods, and destroys an immense amount of small game and birds. It is a savage beast, but is capable of domestication, and may be put to good use as a mouser; it can never, however, be quite trusted, and always keeps up a more or less ferocious appearance. Still, it must be remembered that, in common with a large proportion of the wildFelidæ, it has never had a fair chance of showing its milder virtues. The Cats, almost without exception, are savage in the extreme, and practically untamable when caught in the adult state, but Mr. Bartlett informs us that there is hardly one of the group that may not be thoroughly domesticated, if taken young and properly treated.