THE WILD CAT OF BRITAIN. 16 [ 



Cases have also been known of cats catching fish in 

 shallow water, springing on them from the banks of streams 

 and ponds ; but I take this as not the habit of the domestic 

 cat, though it is not unusual. 



Gray, in a poem, tells of a cat's death through drowning, 

 while attempting to take gold-fish from a vase filled with water. 



Of Dr. Samuel Johnson it is related, that his cat having 

 fallen sick and refused all food, he became aware that cats 

 are fond of fish. With this knowledge before him he went 

 to the fishmonger's and bought an oyster for the sick 

 creature, wrapped it in paper and brought the appetising 

 morsel home. The cat relished the dainty food, and the 

 Doctor was seen going on the same kindly errand every 

 day until his suffering feline friend was restored to health. 



Still this is no proof that the wild cat, in a pure state of 

 nature, feeds on fish. Again, it is nothing unusual for 

 domestic cats to catch and eat cockroaches, crickets, cock- 

 chafers, also large and small moths, but not so all. In 

 domesticity some are almost omnivorous. But is the wild 

 cat ? Taking its anatomical structure into consideration, 

 there is doubtless a wide distinction, both as regards food 

 and habit. 



In Daniel's "Rural Sports," a.d. 1813, the wild cat is 

 stated to be " now scarce in England, inhabiting the 

 mountainous and woody parts. Mr. Pennant describes it 

 2iS four times the size of the house cat, but the head larger, 

 that it multiplies' as fast, and may be called the British tiger, 

 being the fiercest and most destructive beast we have. 

 When only wounded with shot they will attack the person 

 who injured them, and often have strength enough to be no 

 despicable enemy." 



Through the kind courtesy of that painstaking, excellent, 

 observant, and eminent naturalist, Mr. J. E. Harting, I am 

 enabled to reprint a portion of his lecture on the origin of 

 the domestic cat, and which afterwards appeared in The 

 Field. Although many of the statements are known to 

 naturalists, still I prefer giving them in the order in which 

 they are so skilfully arranged, presenting, as they do, a very 



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