445 



warning him to "lieep off the grass" is the Ruffed 

 Grouse or Pheasant, and, unfortunately, the favorite 

 haunts of this noble game bird are in localities where 

 the Wildcat loves to sneak, hide and depredate. The 

 cautious and ravenous "cat" is passionately fond of 

 Grouse. He destroys them, both old and young, and 

 also their eggs whenever an opportunity presents itself. 

 He kills Wild Turkeys and sucks their eggs, it is 

 affirmed, whenever a nest can be found. The number 

 of small insectivorous and wild song birds, that nest on 

 the ground or in low bushes, which he destroys during 

 the summer season, about the slashings and abandoned 

 lumber camps, is considerable. 



MAMMALS, EGGS, ETC., ARE DEVOURED. 



Rabbits, Squirrels, Mice and Skunks are also eaten 

 by Wildcats, and in the southern States Audubon says 

 they visit sometimes 



"The dry beds of streams or brooks to pick up the catfish, 

 etc., or crayfish and frogs that remain in the deep holes of the 

 creeks during the droug-ht of summer." The same authority 

 states that "the wildcat is a great destroyer of eggs, and 

 never finds a nest of Grouse or Partridge, Wild Turkey or 

 other bird without sucking every egg in it." 



HUNTS THE QUILLFUL PORCUPINE. 



About ten years ago I spent ten days or two weeks in 

 the winter in company with two hunters and trappers 

 in Cameron and Elk counties. We secured nine Wild- 

 cats; two with guns, the remainder with steel traps, 

 and on examining these animals I found that three of 

 them were well filled with quills of the Porcupine. 

 This led me to infer that the Wildcat does not hesitate 

 to attack an animal capable of making a pretty vigor 

 ons defense. 



