l8o Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



REMARKS CONCERNING THE TEXAS WILD CAT 

 LATELY PRESENTED TO THE SOCIETY. 



By S. S. Scoville, M. D., Lkbanon, 0/=" 



(Read February 2, 1S92.) 



This cat was about eighteen months old at tlie time of its 

 accidental death, in vSeptember, 1891. It was captured near 

 Red River, in Wilbarger County, Texas, when but three or 

 four weeks old, and presented to my little eleven-year old 

 granddaughter, Bessie Owens, then residing with her parents 

 in the above-named locality. It was fed on cow's milk, and at 

 first would not lap, and had to receive its nourishment from a 

 teaspoon. It was not long, however, until raw flesh became 

 its exclusive diet. It never, up to the time of its death, could 

 be induced to take the smallest particle of cooked meat of 

 any kind. It was exceedingly fond of small birds, especially 

 the English sparrow. 



Upon the return of my son-in-law's family to Lebanon, 

 they brought the cat and also a pet prairie wolf with them. 

 These animals were then about four months old. Both were 

 kept tied by means of a leather strap passed around the neck. 

 Confinement was necessary, on account of their ungo\ernable 

 propensity to nab up chickens. During the cat's life in Te.xas 

 it was not confined, and was a constant associate of a common 

 house cat, a setter dog and the above-mentioned prairie wolf 



•'Lehanon, ()., January 25, 1S92. 

 JAS. A. Hen.siiai.l Secretary C. S. N. H.: 



Dear .S'/> — Mr. Rayiiioiul Smith informed me that some members of the 

 Society would like to have something' from me in relation to the Texas Wild Cat 

 that was presented to the Society's museum through Mr. Dury. This desire, per- 

 haps, arose from the fact that they had heard that the cat had heen tamed ?1. 



I here enclose a short and hastily prepared paper regarding this cat, which, if 

 you think interesting you can read to the .Society. And possibly it might be worthy 

 of publication in the JoruNAL. However, I will leave you to make such disposi- 

 tion of the paper as you see proper. 



And permit me to say that it will please me very much if you will give the 

 credit of the presentation of this animal to Miss Hcssie Owens, instead of myself. 

 It was her cat, and her attachment to it was wonderful. 



Yours respectfully, S. S. Scovii.i.k. 



