54 THE TRAPPER'S ART. 



and on the sides is a pale reddish brown, overlaid with gray- 

 ish ; the latter color most prevalent in spring and summer. 

 The throat is surrounded with a ruff or collar of long hair. 

 The imder parts are light-colored and spotted. On the sides 

 are a few obscure dark spots, and indistinct longitudinal lines 

 along the middle of the back. The tail is marked with a 

 small black patch above at the end, and with half rings on its 

 upper surface. The inner surface of the ear is black, with 

 white patch. The legs are long, the soles of the feet naked, 

 and the hind-feet are partially webbed. The fur is moder- 

 ately full and soft. The ears have a pencil of dark hairs in 

 winter. 



A variety of the American Wild Cat exists west of the 

 Rocky Mountains, which was called by the early settlers in 

 that region the Red Cat. Its color is somewhat darker than 

 the common variety, being a rich chestnut-brown on the 

 back ; sides and throat, a little paler. Fur soft and full. 



The Wild Cat is cowardly, rarely attacking any thing larger 

 than a hare or young pig or lamb. The pioneer's henroost 

 sometimes suffers from its nocturnal visitations. It feeds on 

 grouse, partridges, squirrels, mice, and other small birds and 

 quadrupeds. It is fond of the dark, thick cedar swamps, 

 where it preys on rabbits, pouncing on them from an over- 

 hanging cliff or tree. In the Southern States, it frequents the 

 swamps and canebrakes bordering on rivers and lakes, and also 

 the briery thickets which grow up on old fields and deserted 

 cotton lands. In dry seasons, or during the sultry weather 

 of summer, it explores the courses of small streams, to feed 

 on the fish that are left in the deep holes as the water dries 

 up. 



Wild Cats are taken in the same way as raccoons or minks, 

 by baiting with meat, and covering the trap smoothly over. 

 The best way is to find a place where they have killed a hare, 

 grouse, or other game, and have left a part of the flesh for a 

 second meal. Set your trap there, and you will be pretty 

 sure of- a visit. 



The European Wild Cat is a distinct animal from the Bay 

 Lynx. Goodrich, in his " Illustrated Natural History," gives 



