WILD CAT. 77 



cry than that of the Wild Cat, or one more likely to be the 

 origin of superstitious fears in the mind of an ignorant High- 

 lander." He describes how one day whilst fishing in Suther- 

 land, and having to climb over rocks to get from one pool to 

 another, he had a close personal encounter with one. 



" In doing so, I sank through some rotten heather and moss 

 up to my knees, almost upon a Wild Cat, who was concealed 

 under it. I was quite as much startled as the animal herself 

 could be, when I saw the wild-looking beast so unexpectedly 

 rush out from between my feet, with every hair of her body 

 standing on end, making her look twice as large as she really 

 was." Pursued by his three Skye terriers " she took refuge in 

 a corner of the rocks, where, perched in a kind of recess out of 

 reach of her enemies, she stood with her hair bristled out, and 

 spitting and growling like a common cat. Having no weapon 

 with me, I laid down my rod, cut a good-sized stick, and pro- 

 ceeded to dislodge her. As soon as I was within six or seven 

 feet of the place, she sprang straight at my face over the dogs' 

 heads. Had I not struck her in mid -air as she leaped at me, 

 I should probably have got some severe wound. As it was she 

 fell with her back half broken amongst the dogs, who, with my 

 assistance, despatched her. I never saw an animal fight so 

 desperately, or one which was so difficult to kill. If a tame cat 

 has nine lives, a Wild Cat must have a dozen." 



The female makes a nest in some remote rock-cleft or hollow 

 tree, where in early summer she usually brings forth four or five 

 kittens, which at an early age spit angrily at any intruder. 



The distribution of the Wild Cat includes Europe and 

 Northern Asia to the North Himalaya. Though formerly a 

 beast of chase in England, it appears never to have been a 

 native of Ireland. Old English names for it were Catamount 

 and Cat-a-mountain. 



Dental formula : /, c {, p -i), in \ 30. 



