July, 191 3. The Irish Naturalist. 125 
WILD CATS IN IRELAND. 
BY J. A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.R.S.E. 
I observe the question discussed in the pages of the 
Irish Naturalist as regards the occurrence of the true Wild 
Cat in Ireland within historic times, and I am fairly well 
acquainted with all previous accounts. I thoroughly 
agree with Mr. Robert Warren's views {supra pp. 94-6) as 
regards the matter, and with all he says against the im- 
perfect evidence adduced in favour of its presence in 
Ireland at any time during, say, the last hundred years. 
Further, I have had very good and abundant cause to 
support him in his judgment that " Stories of Wild Cats by 
the country people should not be credited as referring 
to the true Wild Cat, but to the Domestic Cat run wild, 
and bred wild," &c., &c., and this in spite of Dr. Scharff's 
criticism, of such an opinion of the " veracity of country 
people " being " severe." As most of us who have Hved 
a large portion of our lives — portions too, actively em- 
ployed in observation, and the disentanglement of current 
statements by our Highland informants — know well, what 
Mr. Warren says is quite to the point ; that such are " very 
unrehable," and require close cross-questioning of often 
prolonged and even tedious nature. Frequently if the 
investigator is a stranger, or visits a locaHty for the first 
time, and proceeds with his enquiries from a man whom he 
does not know, and who does not know him — very often 
indeed the native says what he thinks will give pleasure, 
without much regard to the facts. Especially should 
leading questions be avoided ! I have always found it 
necessary first to know my man, and be known to him, 
before crediting all I hear. After that the difficulty is 
less. Likewise, the imperfect knowledge of the Sassenach 
language which many Highlanders have is a great stumbling 
block, especially to the Sassenach ' who comes from south 
of the Border, as well as to his informant. 
^ By ''Sassenach" I do not mean, however, the EngHshman, for we 
lowland " Scotch " are just Sassenachs too — but the further removed 
the Sassenach may be from the Border — of course I refer to our Scottish 
Borders — the more difficult it will prove — as it has pyoved — for the in- 
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