FINE SCENERY WILD CAT. 51 



At the entrance to the bay are some islands one named 

 Eoan Island, or the Seal Island ; and the others are called 

 the Rabbit Islands, from being tenanted by numbers of these 

 animals. The rabbits, however, must there be of little use, 

 excepting as food to birds of prey. In the winter the eagles 

 and hawks feed greatly upon them. The eider-ducks also 

 breed on these islands ; and are so tame when nesting that 

 they allow themselves to be lifted off their nest, and the 

 down of which it is formed to be taken away, without desert- 

 ing it. I saw a few eider-ducks swimming about in the bay, 

 amongst numerous cormorants and other birds. The rocks 

 along the coast are inhabited by a great number of wild cats, 

 otters, &c,, who live here in tolerable peace, as the game is 

 not much looked after excepting in particular localities. 

 Indeed, the ground isear the coast here is not well adapted 

 for grouse. The keeper showed me at his house an immense 

 cat, which he said was bred between a tame and a wild cat ; 

 and though such an occurrence is very rare, I am sure that 

 he was correct in this instance. The animal showed certain 

 peculiarities of his wild father's race, in the size and shape of 

 his head, the shortness and roughness of his tail ; and in 

 other points had a likeness to the wild cat, which, though 

 difficult to explain, was unmistakeable. I have seen this 

 resemblance to both parents in mules of different kinds, such 

 as a mule between blackcock and pheasant, or pheasant and 

 common fowl, in all which birds something catches an 

 accustomed eye which immediately points out what the 

 parents were. The cat, too, belonging to Eoss, the keeper at 

 Tongue, had a peculiar wildness and antipathy to strangers, 

 not suffering himself to be caressed, or indeed scarcely to be 

 looked at, by any one excepting the keeper's wife, for whom 

 the animal showed great attachment. When I entered the 

 house he bolted out, and it was with difficulty that Mrs. 

 Eoss caught him ; and when she brought him in again in her 

 arms, the animal showed the greatest fear of and animosity 

 to me, and was constantly endeavouring to escape. 



It was delightful to hear in the plantations at Tongue the 

 coo of the wood-pigeon and the songs of thrush, sisken, &c. 

 The trees seemed to be full of birds, most of which, to 

 reach these woods, must have wandered over many miles of 

 ground very uncongenial to their habits and tastes. Indeed 

 it is difficult to understand ho\v many of the birds, such as 

 the golden-crested wren, the little blue titmouse, &c., could 



