THE WILD CAT. 1 73 



bay, is no mean antagonist, even for an armed man ; and 

 several instances are on record where these creatures have 

 inflicted considerable harm on their assailants before finally 

 succumbing. 



One of the most vivid descriptions of the habits of the Wild 

 Cat is given by St. John, in his " Natural History of the High- 

 lands," who writes as follows : — " In the hanging birch-woods 

 that border some of the Highland streams and lochs, the Wild 

 Cat is still not uncommon, and I have heard their wild and 

 unearthly cries echo far in the quiet night as they answer and 

 call each other. I do not know a more harsh and unpleasant 

 cry than that of the Wild Cat, or one more likely to be the 

 origin of superstitious fears in the mind of an ignorant High- 

 lander. These animals have great skill in finding their prey, 

 and the damage they do to the game must be very great, owing 

 to the quantity of food they require. When caught in a trap, 

 they fly without hesitation at any person who approaches them, 

 not waiting to be assailed. I have heard many stories of their 

 attacking and severely wounding a man when their escape has 

 been cut off. I was once fishing in a river in Sutherlandshire, 

 and, in passing from one pool to another, had to climb over 

 some rock and broken kind of ground. In doing so, I sank 

 through some rotten heather and moss up to my knees, almost 

 upon a Wild Cat, who was concealed under it. I was quite as 

 much startled as the animal herself could be, when I saw the 

 wild-looking beast so unexpectedly rush out from between my 

 feet, with every hair on her body standing on end, making her 

 look twice as large as she really was. I had three small Skye- 

 Terriers with me, who immediately gave chase, and pursued 

 her till she took refuge in a corner of the rocks, where, perched 

 in a kind of recess, she stood with her hair bristled out, spit- 

 ting and growling like a Common Cat. Having no weapon 

 with me, I laid down my rod, cut a good-sized stick, and pro- 



