126 Ihehish Naturalist. ^ July, 
I think it has been stated that the skull or bones of 
a Wild Cat ^ have been discovered in some one or more of 
the wonderful bone -caves of Ireland, but I do not propose 
going into that part of the question here, as that phase 
has no particular bearing upon the more recent proofs — 
or statements — regarding the occurrence of the species 
within historic times. 
Suffice it to say, that I cannot accept any of the proofs — 
so-called — of any occurrence of true Wild Cats — well, say, 
since Thompson wrote his valuable work {i.e., without 
referring back to earlier writers such as Gerald Boate or 
even Wilde) — nor the statements of the " oldest inhabitant." 
As already said, such statements are often quite imaginative, 
and are often dressed up to please the hearer ; or may 
arise from an imperfect appreciation of the English 
questioning. 
The fact remains that while the Marten Cat is still found 
in Ireland, it has long since, and within historic time, 
become extinct in all the Hebrides south of the Sound of 
Harris, and has lately also ceased to exist even in its last 
refuges in the mountainous portions of Harris and Lewis. 
The Wild Cat has not been known anyv/here in the Outer 
Isles at any time within our ken. And when that is con- 
sidered along with the imperfect evidence of its recent 
presence in Ireland, it must be evident surely, that at 
least more definite and abundant proof is required of that 
before any such " wild " statements can be accepted by 
those who make a special study of distribution and dis- 
persal, to say nothing of dominancy and migrations. 
Dunipace, Larbert, Scotland. 
vestigator and his informant, the one ignorant of Gaehc, and the other 
equally so — or only with imperfect knowledge — of the English language, 
to understand one another. The language of " Yea " and " Nay " is 
twt sufficient to clear up doubts. 
* [Not the Wild Cat of Scotland, but Felis ocrcata of the Mediterranean 
Region. See R. F. Scharff in Irish Naturalist, xiv., 1905, p. 79 ; Proc. 
R. I. Aoad., vol, xxvi., 1906, pp. 1-12 and infra p. 127. — Eds.]. 
