264 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



The same author (in Trevor-Batty e, 1913, p. 255) refers to the 

 Cretan Wildcat as "not uncommon in the island." 



The Game Division, Forestry Department, Greek Ministry of 

 Agriculture, seems to consider (in Hit., March, 1937) that this animal 

 is derived from Domestic Cats which the inhabitants left when they 

 had to flee during the war of independence, and also from those 

 left by the departing Turks when the exchange of populations took 

 place after 1922. 



It may be added that Pocock (1907, pp. 151, 160) evidently 

 believes that the type specimen was a Domestic Cat or a feral repre- 

 sentative of one. 



Cor si can Wildcat. Chat sauvage de Corse (Fr.) 



FELIS BEYI Lavauden 



Felis reyi Lavauden, C. R. Acad. Sci. [Paris], vol. 189, p. 1023, 1929. ("Foret 

 d'Aunes des bords de la lagune de Biguglia (Sud de Bastia)," Corsica.) 



This Wildcat is included because of its interest as an insular form 

 and because of the generally uncertain future of the Wildcats of 

 Europe, rather than on account of any definitely recorded decrease. 



It is smaller than Felis silvestris silvestris; pelage very dark, with 

 a darker, rather indistinct dorsal stripe; hind feet with black marks 

 like those of African Wildcats; back of the ear dark brown. Head 

 and body, 580 mm. ; tail, 270 mm. Weight, 2 kg. (small females) to 

 5 kg. (large males). (Lavauden, 1929, pp. 1023-1024.) 



No Wildcat had been recorded from Corsica before 1929, and 

 only three specimens have been studied so far, but the species is 

 not extremely rare. It is found throughout Corsica in the high 

 mountains, the forests, the thickets of the hills, and the shrubbery 

 of the plains. The Corsican hunters do not bother to seek the animal 

 because of the low value of its fur. (Lavauden, 1929, p. 1024.) 



Sardinian Wildcat. Chat sauvage de Sardaigne (Fr.). Gatto 

 selvatico di Sardegna (It.) 



FELIS SARDA Lataste 



[Felis libyca] var. sarda Lataste, Act. Soc. Linn. Bordeaux, vol. 39, p. 231, 



1885. ("Sarrabus (Sardaigne).") 

 FIGS.: Martorelli, 1896, pis. 1, 2. 



While little information is at hand concerning the numerical 

 status of this species, it is possibly being subjected, like other 

 Wildcats of Europe, to the process of extinction by "dilution" in 

 addition to direct persecution. 



It differs from Felis silvestris in its shorter fur and more slender 

 tail (hairs at middle averaging about 30 mm. instead of 40 mm.) ; 



