292 Game of Europe, W. & N. Asia & America 



THE WILD CAT 



[Fells catus) 

 (Plate V. Fig. 7) 



Until a comparatively recent date the European wild cat, in the 

 British Islands at any rate, was regarded by sportsmen rather in the light 

 of "vermin" than as a game animal ; and it is only in consideration of its 

 increasing rarity that it has been looked upon more favourably. In a 

 work on the wild cat of Europe published in i8g6, Dr. Edward Hamilton 

 came, indeed, to the conclusion that pure-bred specimens of this animal 

 had practically ceased to exist in Great Britain. This idea as to the 

 extermination ot the species seems, however, to be premature, since several 

 skins showing all the characteristics of the full-blooded wild cat have 

 recently been received at the British Museum from Scotland. The notice 

 of the species given here is brief; those readers who desire to know more 

 about it being referred to the above-mentioned work bv Dr. Hamilton. 



In general appearance and colour the wild cat is very like an over- 

 grown and powerfully-built " tabby " of the old-fashioned domesticated 

 English breed, previous to the introduction of the Persian strain which 

 is now so common. The general colour of the fur is yellowish grey, 

 with an interrupted dark stripe along the spine, two dusky bands on the 

 cheeks, and numerous obscure transverse bands of the same colour on the 

 body and limbs. The tail, which is of equal thickness throughout, is less 

 than halt the length of the head and body, and ringed and tipped with 

 black. Usually the greater part or the whole of the sole of the hind-foot 

 is black or blackish brown. In a full-grown male the length of the head 

 and body is about 34 inches, and that of the tail about i \\ inches. 



Although never an inhabitant of Ireland, and now exterminated in 



