Flesh-Eating Land Mammals 



The fur of the true Wild Cat is dense in texture, 

 and of a yellowish-grey colour with dusky stripes. The 

 most prominent markings of the body are the ones 

 along the back and the transverse lines upon the sides. 

 There are also two dusky bars along the cheeks. In 

 most cases the tip of the nose and lips are black. The 

 claws are large and the whiskers prominent. The head 

 is very round and bull-shaped, and the limbs massive 

 for the size of the animal. In length, the head and 

 body run from 2 feet to 2-| feet, the tail being about 

 one third in proportion. The female is the larger of 

 the sexes, and she has five or six kittens in each 

 litter. 



This Cat is a night prowler, and will not scruple to 

 attack any animal over which Nature has given it power. 

 For instance, a lamb or even the fawn of a deer may 

 fall a victim to the claws and teeth of this lynx of the 

 woods and rocks. Poultry, game-birds, hares and 

 rabbits, are equally the prey of the Wild Cat when in 

 need of a meal. The rocky mountain-side where man 

 seldom throws his shadow is the place the Wild Cat 

 haunts. In the recesses of some heap of stones thrown 

 down the steep inland cliff, this animal will take up its 

 abode, and issue forth as evening enters at the great 

 gate of the strath. The Wild Cat leaves its cairn an 

 outlaw, and returns having given and asked no quarter. 

 Felis Catus fears no enemies within its domain — its 

 only dread is the iron trap, or the lead poured from 

 some ambush. 



i8 



