WILD CAT. 93 



British Islands, where it always inhabits wooded, and generally 

 nountainous, districts. In the most secluded and inaccessible 

 Sarts of such regions the Wild Cat makes its lair, which may 

 1)6 situated either in some dense thicket, in the hollow stem of 

 11 decayed tree, or in a cleft or crevice of the rocks, and there it 

 1 ears its young. Sometimes, however, the female selects in pre- 

 erence the deserted hole of a Badger or Fox in which to litter ; 

 |ind we have heard of the nest of one of the larger birds being 

 lihosen as a nursery. The young, which are born during the 

 iarly summer, are usually five or six in number, and closely 

 ■esemble ordinary domestic kittens. After being suckled by 

 fihe female till such a period as milk no longer satisfies the 

 leeds of their appetites, they are fed by her on mice and small 

 oirds till such time as they are capable of taking care of them- 

 , selves and capturing larger prey, when they are freed from 

 i parental control. 



All who have had any experience of game and game- 

 jareserving are well acquainted with the enormous amount 

 pf damage that an ordinary Domestic Cat, which has taken 

 I either to occasional poaching or to a thoroughly wild life, will 

 inflict on the denizens of their coverts, moors, or warrens. 

 From its larger size and more powerful build, the Wild Cat is 

 1 still more serious enemy to game of all kinds ; while in the 

 aeighbourhood of human habitations it is likewise a foe to 

 i poultry and pigeons. No wonder, therefore, that game- 

 I keepers wage incessant war against the Wild Cat, shooting and 

 [trapping it whenever the opportunity presents itself; indeed, 

 the wonder is that the creature has managed to survive as long 

 las it has. From the extreme boldness and ferocity of its 

 disposition, an angry and wounded Wild Cat, when brought to 

 ibay, is no mean antagonist, even for an armed man; and 

 Ijseveral instances are on record where these creatures have 

 linflicted considerable harm on their assailants before finally 

 j|succumbing. 



