449 



animals are slain, or that said bounties should be paid by the 

 State? 



Tn response to these interrogatories a considenible 

 amount of instructive and interesting information is 

 given on the succeeding pages from letters of the gen- 

 tlemen who are credited ^^"ith their observations: 



GEO. M. DAY, Wayne County: 



Wildcats are not plenty this winter ('94). Eight have been 

 killed that I have heard of. They are very destructive to rab- 

 bits, squirrels, ruffed grouse and other small game easily 

 caught by them in winter. A large one was tracked by a hun- 

 ter some years ago, and found to have eaten three rabbits and 

 a ruffed grouse, all fresh, caught on same day. The skins of 

 the rabbits were turned flesh side out on the snow, and the cat 

 seemed to Rave room for more, as it was still hunting when 

 the hunter gave up the chase. I have caught several of them 

 in steel traps and saved one alive. With the help of two young 

 men we drove it out of the woods, using a pitch-fork behind 

 and a fish-pole attached to a trap chain ahead, as gentle per- 

 suaders to keep the peace, etc. It would hang back behind 

 every bush at first, then a poke with the fork would send it. 

 full S'pring, at my face the length of the chain. When out of 

 the woods it sulked and lay on the snow, and was dragged to 

 a small crate, lifted in, and a board placed on the box, com- 

 pleting the capture. I have never known on« to attack any 

 one, but their sharp claws and muscular forearms make them 

 look like dangerous customers. The usual weight of Wildcats 

 is twelve to twenty-five pounds. One killed by S. Maloney near 

 Beech Pond, in 1892, weighed forty-two pounds. I caught one 

 the same season which weighed about twenty-five pounds. 



MESSRS. HERMAN and OTTO BEHR, Lopez. Sullivan county: 



Wildcats are common in this county. Think that they do 

 (luite an amount of damage to game, as they live entirely on 

 flesh. Have seen where they caught black squirrels, white 

 rabbits, porcupines and one deer. The deer mentioned was an 

 old doe caught in the summer time; when found it was partly 

 eaten and covered with leaves'. It was captured by the Wild- 

 cat leaping on its back and biting it on the top of neck. A friend 

 set a trap and caught the cat, which proved to be a large male. 



29-11 



