of North Carolina. 117 



such Encounters, otherwise these Beasts would be dangerous 

 Enemies to meet with thus wounded, in the solitary parts 

 of the Woods. What uses are made of these Beasts are uncer- 

 tain, because they seldom or never appear or are kill'd by 

 the Planters near the Plantations, and what use the Indians 

 make of them we know nothing of at present. 



The Wild-cat is likewise another Beast of Prey, and is 

 quite different from those in Europe, being more fierce, nim- 

 ble, and large; they have a very large Head, yet their Tails 

 do not exceed four Inches in length. They are of a fine Tabby 

 colour, and as large as a Fox. They make an odd and fright- 

 ful sort of Cry in the Woods at Night. They are dextrous 

 in climbing of Trees, which they do with the greatest Agility 

 imaginable, and Prey as the Pa7ithers do, being great de- 

 stroyers of young Swine. They take most of their Prey by 

 surprize, for they get up into the Trees and kill Deer as they 

 feed or pass by near them, by leaping directly upon them, 

 and so fasten their Teeth into their Shoulders, and thus suck 

 their Blood ^till they die, as a Weesel does a Rabhet with us, 

 so that you shall see the Deer run through the Woods in this 

 manner, 'till at length for want of Strength he falls to the 

 Ground, and becomes a prey to his Enemy. Thus they take 

 every thing by surprize, not being able to catch any thing by 

 running. They destroy Hares, Birds, and every thing they 

 meet that they are able to conquer. The Purr is made use of 

 in Stomachers for weak and cold Stomachs, in lining of Muffs 

 and Coats in cold Countries. Their chiefest haunts are in 

 Swamps, Perhorsans, and amongst the Hollow-Canes. They 

 are not near so numerous now as they were some years ago, 

 the Planters continually meeting and killing them as they 



hunt 



