264 Practical Game Preserving. 



tain, and is seldom seen during the daytime. At night, 

 like its domestic relative, it prowls far and wide, walking 

 with the same deliberate and measured step, making the 

 same regular and even track, and hunting its game in the 

 same tiger-like manner. 



The wild cat, however, is seen during the day when its 

 resort is disturbed by anyone passing ; and, having by no 

 means the same fear of man that either the fox or other 

 vermin may be possessed with, it readily attacks its dis- 

 turber or assailant, when it will be found an uncomfortably 

 daring animal. Even when caught and securely held in a 

 gin, it does not hesitate to attack anyone approaching, not 

 waiting to be assailed. 



The wild cat, when in pursuit of rabbits or hares, does 

 not employ the same tactics described as peculiar to the 

 weasel, but rather searches for or hunts them in a slow 

 and deliberate manner until, coming up with its quarry, 

 it makes a final rush, and, killing the animal by biting 

 at the head or throat, leisurely consumes the head and 

 leaves the rest. Game birds, and such as may seem large 

 enough to be worth the trouble of capture, it obtains 

 by stealthily creeping up to them if on the ground, or 

 climbing after them on trees in a wonderfully astute manner, 

 taking advantage of every bough and branch that may 

 provide any cover to its movements until, having manoeuvred 

 itself to the back of the bird, it slowly creeps near enough 

 to make the final spring. Much in a similar manner to 

 the common domestic cat do the wild ones sit and watch 

 at holes from whence a rabbit or any of the smaller 

 animals, such as mice and water rats, may be expected to 



