WILD CAT. 



Tlie Wild Cat takes up its residence in rocky and wooded country, making 

 its home in the cleft of a rock or the hollow of some aged tree, and issuing from 

 thence upon its marauding excursions. It has even been known to make its 

 domicile in the nest of some large bird. It is rather a prolific animal, and, 

 were it not kept within due bounds by such potent enemies as the gun and 

 the snare, would rapidly increase in numbers. As it is, however, the 

 Wild Cat yields to these foes, and slowly, but surely, vanishes from the land. 

 The number of its family is from three to five, or even six. The female is smaller 

 than the male. 



When attacked, the Wild Cat is a most ferocious opponent, as may be seen 

 from Mr. St. John's account of this animal. 



The strength and ferocity of the Wild Cat, when hemmed in or hard pressed, 

 are perfectly astonishing. The body Avhen skinned presents quite a mass of 

 sinew and cartilage. 



I have occasionally, though rarely, fallen in with these animals in the forests 

 and mountains of this country. Once, when grouse shooting, I came suddenly, 

 in a rough and rocky part of the ground, upon a family of tw^o old ones and thi'ee 

 half-grown ones. In the hanging biixh woods that border some of the Highland 



Ci 



