The Book of Cats. 241 



wounded as to necessitate his removal to an hos- 

 pital, where he for some time remained, in peril 

 o( lock-jaw. 



The following narrative is furnished by Mr. St. 

 John : — 



" Once, when grouse shooting, I came suddenly, 

 in the rough and rocky part of the ground, upon a 

 family of two old and three half-grown wild Cats. 

 In the hanging birch-woods that bordered some of 

 the highland streams and rocks, the wild Cat is 

 still not uncommon ; and I have heard their wild 

 and unearthly cries echo afar in the quiet night as 

 they answer and call to each other. I do not know 

 a more harsh and unpleasant cry than the cry of 

 the wild Cat, or one more likely to be the origin 

 of superstitious fears in the mind of an ignorant 

 Highlander. These animals have great skill in 

 finding their prey ; and the damage they do to the 

 game must be very great, owing to the quantity of 

 food which they require. When caught in a trap, 

 they fly, without hesitation, at any person who ap- 

 proaches them, not waiting to be assailed. I have 

 heard many stories of their attacking and severely 

 wounding a man, when their retreat has been cut 

 off. Indeed, a wild Cat once flew at me in a most 

 determined manner. I was fishing in a river in 



