THE FARMER AT HOME. 



463 



to get hold of the spear in his mouth ; and if he does so, nothing can 

 save the huntsman but another person attacking him behind. 



WILD BOAR. 



WILD CAT. The common wild cat of North America stands 

 very high on its iegs, and has a short tail which is curved upwards 

 at its extremity ; which circumstances tend to give the animal an 

 appearance of being somewhat disproportioned. In other respects its 

 physiognomy reminds one strongly of the domestic cat, to which its 

 general aspect and movements are very similar. The residence of 

 the wild cat is usually in woody districts, where it preys upon birds, 

 squirrels, and other small animals belonging to the cat genus. This 

 animal is about two feet long, and twelve or thirteen inches in cir- 

 cumference. The tail but little exceeds three inches in length. The 

 general color is a deep reddish, mingled with small spots of blackish 

 brown. The animal is now very rarely met with in New England ; 

 but is more common in Canada and the Western States. It must be 

 distinguished from the wild cats occasionally shot in our woods, which 

 have sprung from the domestic cat. 



v WILD GOOSE. A bird of passage. From the beginning of 

 April to the middle of November, this fowl resides chiefly in the 

 northern and north-easterly parts of America. In those parts they 

 produce their young, and are to be found in the rivers and harbors, in 

 immense numbers. In November they come in large flocks from the 

 north and northeast, and pass off to the southwest. In March and 



