36*4. COMMON CAT. 



colour in different parts of Europe. Mr. Schre- 

 ber in his plate of quadrupeds, figures a specimen 

 of a pretty deep tawny colour, varied with black 

 or deep-brown streaks, so that the animal has very 

 much the appearance of a Tiger in miniature; 

 while on another plate he has exhibited one, com- 

 municated by Dr. Pallas, of a pale grey with black 

 or dark-brown variegations. 



The manners of the wild cat resemble those of 

 the Lynx, and several others of this genus;' living 

 in woods, and preying on young hares, on birds, 

 and a variety of other animals, which it seizes by 

 surprise. It breeds in the hollows of trees, and 

 produces about four at a birth. <f The wild Cat 

 (says Mr. Pennant) may be called the British 

 Tiger; it is the fiercest and most destructive beast 

 we have; making dreadful havock among our 

 poultry, lambs, and kids. It inhabits the 'most 

 mountainous and woody parts of these islands, liv- 

 ing mostly in trees, and feeding only by night. It 

 multiplies as fast as our common Cats ; and often 

 the females of the latter will quit their domestic 

 mates, and return home pregnant by the former." 



The varieties of this animal in a domestic state 

 are very numerous; it is either entirely black; 

 black and white; black, fulvous, and white (called 

 the Tortoise-shell or Spanish Cat) ; white without 

 any variegation ; fulvous and white ; dun-colour 

 or tawny, either plain or with deeper stripes ; tab- 

 by,, or of a similar colour to the wild Cat, but 

 with much bolder or more vivid variegations; 

 slate-coloured or blue-grey (called the Chartreux 



