In its native wilds the Ocelot seeks its food chiefly among the smaller mammalia and birds, although it is strong enough to attack and destroy a moderate sized monkey. It chases the monkeys into the tree branches, and is nearly as expert a climber as they are, but, as it cannot follow the birds into the airy region, it is forced to match its cunning against their wings, and it rarely secures them. As is often done by the domestic cat it can spring amongst a flock of birds as they rise from the ground, and, leaping into the air, strike down one or more of them with its swift paw. But its usual method of securing birds is by concealing itself among the branches of a tree and suddenly knocking them over as they unsuspiciously settle within reach of the hidden foe.
The movements of the Tiger-cat are graceful and elegant, and few specimens of animal life found in out zoological gardens are more interesting.
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| From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences. | AMERICAN OCELOT. ⅓ Life-size. | Copyright by Nature Study Pub. Co., 1898, Chicago. |
| CHICAGO COLORTYPE CO., CHICAGO & NEW YORK. | ||
AZAMET THE HERMIT AND HIS DUMB FRIENDS.
AZAMET the vizier had been raised by Sultan Mahmoud to the highest office in the empire. As soon as he was established in his position, he tried to reform many abuses; but the nobles and imaums plotted against him.
Deprived of his property, and deserted by his friends, Azamet withdrew to the wilderness of Khorasan, where he lived alone in a hut of his own building, and planted a little garden by the side of a brook.