170 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



portance, the comparatively small number of skins sold realis- 

 ing small prices. 



XXXI. THE WILD CAT. FELIS CATUS. 



Felis catus, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 62 (1766) ; Elliot, 



Monograph of Felidae, pi. xxx. (1878-83). 

 Felis sy/vestris, Schreber, Saugethiere, vol. iii. p. 397 (1778). 



(Hate XX.) 



Characters.* — General colour yellowish-grey, with an inter- 

 rupted longitudinal dark stripe down the, back, two dusky 

 bands on the cheeks, and numerous obscure transverse stripes 

 of the same colour on the body and limbs ; tail of equal thick- 

 ness throughout, less than half the head and body in length, 

 and ringed and tipped with black. Length of head and body 

 of male, about 34 inches; of tail, nj£ inches. 



In general aspect, form, and coloration, the Wild Cat re- 

 sembles large " Tabbies" of the domestic breed ; from which 

 it differs in the proportionately longer body and limbs, and 

 the shorter and thicker tail ; the fur being also more abundant 

 than in the original English breed. Conforming in its general 

 external configuration and appearance to the type characteristic 

 of the great majority of the members of the family to which it 

 belongs, the Wild Cat has the general ground-colour of its 

 soft and long fur yellowish-grey, tending in some individuals to 

 pale reddish-brown. In addition to some black spots near the 

 muzzle, the face is marked with two black stripes, commencing 

 between the eyes, and gradually increasing in width, and 

 diverging as they pass backwards between the ears to the 

 hinder part of the neck. Commencing between the shoulder- 

 blades, a broad irregular black or blackish longitudinal stripe 

 traverses the whole length of the back, from which diverge 

 numerous paler transverse bands, gradually becoming lighter in 



* Our account of the Wild Cat is abbreviated from the one already pub- 

 lished in "British Mammals." 



