2i 4 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



I think they are now more often seen in the 

 wildest and most retired parts of the Highlands of 

 Scotland than anywhere else. In other parts of Europe 

 the colour of the Wild Cat varies to a deep tawny, with 

 brown or deep black streaks ; or sometimes a pale grey, 

 with black and brown markings. 



The Wild Cat is quite the Ishmael of the feline 

 race, and all the specimens which have come under 

 my notice at shows, or in the hands of collectors of 

 natural history subjects, have been more remarkable for 

 their ferocity than their beauty. 



It is chiefly to be found in very retired places amongst 

 woods, and especially where stunted underwood grows, 

 in and about rocks and crags, in the caves and crevices 

 of which it lives and rears its young, producing four or 

 five in a litter. 



Of course it is pre-eminently a beast of prey, and 

 lives upon birds, leverets, rabbits, and such like small 

 game as it can lay its claws upon, and has been 

 known to kill lambs, kids and young fawns, so that 

 one of its most deadly enemies is the gamekeeper, 

 who will tell you, as poor Artemus Ward said of the 

 North American Indian, " It is downright poison 

 wherever you find him." 



Some naturalists call it the British Tiger, and it has 

 certainly all the characteristics of that animal, both in form 

 and habits, but, being so much smaller in size, is not 

 capable of doing so much mischief. 



Although numerous instances have occurred of 

 domestic cats escaping to the woods, and taking up 



