THE WILD CAT. 139 



Westmorland and Cumberland. In the united pa- 

 rishes of Lochgoil-head and Kilmorich, in Argyle- 

 shire, they are more numerous than Foxes, and 

 often commit great depredations among the poultry 

 and Iambs. They have their lodgments in the cre- 

 vices of rocks; and in deep and narrow holes, in 

 the face of dreadful precipices, where it is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to approach them. In these they 

 produce their young*. 



The manners of the Wild Cat are nearly allied 

 to those of the Lynx, and to those of several others 

 of the larger species of its tribe. It may, with 

 propriety, be denominated the British Tiger, since 

 it is, by far, the fiercest and most destructive beast 

 that is found in our island. These animals seldom 

 range abroad to feed, except during, the night. 

 Their usual prey consists of the various kinds of 

 quadrupeds, as Hares, Rabbets, &c. that inhabit the 

 neighbouring woods; and also of wood game, and 

 some other kinds of birds. 



In their caterwawling noise, and general pro- 

 perties, they agree with the Domestic Cats ; but 

 they differ from these very essentially both in 

 their size and appearance. They breed three 

 or four times in the year, and produce several 

 young ones at a litter. The two varieties will 

 breed together; but the offspring are exceedingly 



Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland, iii, p. 17C. 



shy 



