1 52 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



lambs and kids. It inhabits the most mountainous and woody- 

 parts of these islands, living mostly in trees and feeding only 

 by night." 



In the course of a most informative and interesting article in 

 The Animal World, Mr. Harwood Brierley gives a delightful sketch 

 of his feline majesty at home. He says — 



"Of nocturnal habits, like the Badger, Otter and Fox, this most 

 ferocious beast can rarely be seen except by daybreak or evening 

 twilight, and may for a long time frequent a mountain district 

 unknown to its sparse population until certain tell-tale marks are 

 left in the Winter snow, thus making his presence felt at last by a 

 series of misdeeds. After going on prowl he habitually uses a 

 different route on returning to his lair, where he sleeps during the 

 daytime with, apparently, a quite easy conscience. Sanguinary 

 always, both sexes kill more than twice as much game as they can 

 devour, rarely returning to finish the remains of a previous meal. 

 In an ordinary way the beast prefers to feed where he has killed his 

 prey, leaving behind either fur or feather. . . . 



"Judging by the story of the mediaeval Yorkshire knight, Sir 

 Perceval Cresacre, whose effigy may be seen in Barnborough 

 Church, and who was killed by a Wild Cat in the church porch 

 after a fight lasting some hours, discretion remains the better part 

 of valour when a warrior huntsman, gamekeeper, or ranger not well 

 armed comes into the vicinity of a Wild Cat's lair, for the chances 

 are that she will hazard anything in defence of her kittens. The 

 Cat-a-mount, as this beast used to be called, has not only a double 

 set of keen, retractile claws, but she has ' nine lives ' at least, and 

 will not be humiliated into submission by flogging with the cat-o'- 

 nine-tails. . . . 



"The question arises: is the indigenous Wild Cat of Europe 

 to be allowed to multiply with or without restraint in some of its 

 Highland fastnesses, or is it to be trapped and shot wherever 

 seen in such a manner as to make its death as speedy and pain- 

 less as possible? There are the interests of landowners, sportsmen, 

 farmers, crofters, shepherds, naturalists, and humanitarians to 

 consider. 



"I hold the opinion that if the much-discussed schemes for the 

 reafforestation of Scotland take a substantial form it will be possible 

 to offer even this wild beast a few sanctuaries wherein to dwell at 

 peace with mankind." 



