ORDER CARNIVORA: CARNIVORES 257 



Hamilton speaks rather emphatically in his monograph (1896, 

 p. iv) : "On a careful examination of a number of examples of the 

 Wild Cat of the present time I found many indications of a mixture 

 of the two races. 



"It would seem as if the original Wild Cat, as it existed in the 

 olden days, has been almost exterminated throughout Europe, and 

 that its place has been taken by a mongrel race, the result of con- 

 tinual interbreeding during many centuries (2000 years) of the 

 Wild and the imported Domestic Cat." 



The Wildcat is slightly larger than the Domestic Cat; fur longer, 

 this being especially noticeable in the tail ; general color approaching 

 the smoke gray of Ridgway; dark markings on sides and legs tend- 

 ing to be faint, brownish, and ill-defined; tail, abruptly rounded 

 at the black tip, with two to four more or less complete black rings ; 

 tip of ear slightly blackish. Head and body, 481-545 mm.; tail, 

 309-310 mm. (Miller, 1912, pp. 457-463.) Head and body, 450- 

 700 mm.; tail, 200-300 mm. (Didier and Rode, 1935, p. 284). 



The typical subspecies ranges from northern Spain, France, and 

 northern Germany eastward to Poland and Russia, and southward 

 to Italy and the Balkan Peninsula. 



In Spain it inhabits the Pyrenean, Cantabrian, and north central 

 districts, and it may extend to northern Portugal. Probably the 

 Douro and the Ebro constitute its southern limits. (Cabrera, 1914, 

 p. 204.) "Curiously enough there is no specimen in the Museums 

 of Ponferrada, Lugo, and Santiago. I was left in doubt as to whether 

 the wild cat occurs in the Sierra de Picos, in Galicia, or in the Picos 

 de Europa." (Gadow, 1897, p. 367.) 



In France, where it was formerly very common, the Wildcat is 

 at present in the process of disappearing, but may still be met with 

 in certain regions, such as the Ardennes, the Forest of Orleans, the 

 Pyrenees-Orientales, and the Forest of Carnelle. It preys upon 

 rabbits, hares, squirrels, rats, young Roebucks and Wild Boars, 

 grouse, partridges, and pheasants, and even eats fishes. It is a very 

 injurious animal, which one need not hesitate to destroy. (Didier 

 and Rode, 1935, p. 287.) 



Hunting has contributed in part to its depletion in France, but 

 does not explain this altogether. The species is very much in danger, 

 and we do not think that protective measures can be effective. (E. 

 Bourdelle, in litt., March 6, 1937.) 



In Belgium the species has become very rare, but still exists in 

 some forests in the Province of Luxembourg. It is systematically 

 destroyed as an injurious animal, while another cause of depletion 

 is deforestation. Total protection ought to be adopted. (Musee 

 Royale d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique, in litt., September, 1936.) 



