John Holcomb, age 10, of Santa Maria, California, for his question:
Is there really an animal called an ounce?
Oh yes there is such an animal, though his name has nothing to do with how much he weighs. He is a large member of the cat tribe. But the rare and beautiful creature is seldom seen, even in zoos. Some people call him the onz, so as not to confuse him with the ounce which is one sixteenth of a pound. Others call him the snow leopard and others call him the irbis. But hardly anybody ever gets a chance to call him anything to his face.
The beauteous ounce likes to keep to himself. He lives high up on the snowy Himalaya mountains, where even daring climbers seldom go. Those who call him the snow leopard are somewhat mistaken. True, he is about the same size as a leopard. He has a long leopard type tail and his fur is speckled with leopard type spots. But experts who know tell us that he is not really a true leopard. However, there is no mistake about the fact that the ounce is a big cat.
Lynxes, persian house cats and several smallish wild cats have long fluffy fur. But the lions, tigers and other big cats wear short, smooth fur though the male lion has a longish, shaggy mane. The ounce is different. He is the one big cat with long, silky fur like the coat of a persian kitten. Its background color is creamy or pale silvery grey. His large leopard type spots are black and rather blurred. They cover his whole body, his legs and paws and even his long, furry tail. His eyes are big and bright, blue or smokey grey.
Truly the ounce is a beauty. But because he lives in such a lonely part of the world, hardly anybody gets a chance to admire him. Even scientists have not been able to learn much about his home life, though they tell us that he feeds on rabbits and hares, on wild sheep and mountain goats. Once in a while, in northern India, an ounce is captured. They say he becomes a charming pet, as gentle and friendly as a cute little kitten in a pet shop.
Some experts suspect that Mother Nature gave all the cats warm, furry coats and expected them to live in cold, snowy climates. But cats, as we know, have minds of their own. Besides which, they insist on being as comfortable as possible. Ages ago, their ancestors left the frosty places where they were supposed to live. The lynxes and bobcats may still live in the wintry north woods. Sometimes our handsome puma wanders into the snow country. But lions, tigers and other big cats refuse to budge from the warm tropics.
The one exception is the ounce. He became used to the snowy cold on the high Himalayas and his children never left home to find warmer climates. In fact, this is one reason why the ounce is seldom kept in a zoo. Our weather is much to warm for him and he soon dies. Though zoo keepers know that the handsome fellow is gentle and tame, they refuse to take a chance on risking his life.