WILD CAT. 93 



British Islands, where it always inhabits wooded, and generally 

 mountainous, districts. In the most secluded and inaccessible 

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

 be situated either in some dense thicket, in the hollow stem of 

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

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

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

 and we have heard of the nest of one of the larger birds being 

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

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

 resemble ordinary domestic kittens. After being suckled by 

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

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

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

 selves and capturing larger prey, when they are freed from 

 parental control. 



All who have had any experience of game and game- 

 preserving are well acquainted with the enormous amount 

 of damage that an ordinary Domestic Cat, which has taken 

 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 

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

 neighbourhood of human habitations it is likewise a foe to 

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

 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 

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

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

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

 several instances are on record where these creatures have 

 inflicted considerable harm on their assailants before finally 

 succumbing. 



