S THE PESTS OF THE FARM. 



SECTION I. 



QUADRUPEDS. 



THE WILD CAT. In form, the Wild Cat closely resembles its 

 domesticated namesake ; it is, however, more compactly built, is of 

 larger size, and its tail is not only shorter, but blunter at the point. 

 From the latter circumstance has arisen the not yet obsolete fable 

 of wild, demon-like cats, being found, with hooks or spikes at the 

 extremity of the tail ; for, in the common Wild Cat, the extremity 

 of the tail is usually destitute of hair, and is not unfrequently fur- 

 nished with a hard and nail-like process, proceeding from a sort of 

 unaccountable exposure of the last joint of the tail. The domestic 

 cat will also occasionally become wild. This is not, as might be 

 supposed, the descendant of the Wild Cat, but is of Egyptian ori- 

 gin. It will, however, breed with the Wild Cat, and I have ascer- 

 tained that the progeny are fertile. The young are also fertile 

 among themselves ; and, hence, according to the admitted theory 

 of zoologists, they are of the one species. 



When the domestic cat becomes wild, it is, by many degrees, a 

 more troublesome and more crafty enemy than the naturally wild 

 animal. Whether naturally wild, or only having been rendered 

 so by circumstances, however, both animals present the same char- 

 acteristics of disposition, habit, and place of abode. Their prey is 

 the same, their habitudes are the same, and, consequently, the 

 same mode of destruction will be found to apply to both. The 

 principal specific difference between the wild and the common Cat 

 is the length of the intestines those of the Wild Cat being con- 

 siderably shorter. 



The Wild Cat exceeds the common cat in size, standing usually 

 upwards of eighteen inches in height. The body is shorter in pro- 

 portion ; the lips are always black, and the prevailing color of the 

 fur a rusty or reddish grey. This fur will be found to make a 

 warm and comfortable lining for winter shoes. 



Now, as to the destruction of the cat, either traps or poison will 

 effect it with facility. A steel spring-trap is best, and I prefer the 

 square to the round form. Chain it firmly to some fixed object ; 

 bait with a dead fowl or piece of meat, smeared or rubbed with 

 valerian. The cat is so very fond of the odor of this substance, 

 hence familiarly termed " catmint," that it will go anywhere for 



