WILD CAT 



Cat which sits contentedly purring by the hearth, there 

 seems Httle doubt that stray pussies have interbred with 

 the Wild Cat, evidence of which is brought to bear when 

 one remembers the abundance of tabbies which exist 

 to-day. 



In general colouration the true Wild Cat is yellowish- 

 grey, with a dark, interrupted stripe along the back, two 

 dark bands upon the cheeks, several obscare, transverse 

 stripes on the massive body and limbs, and a prominent 

 bushy tail, which is shown off by rings, and a tip, of 

 black. The long, soft fur ; large, bright eyes, wide 

 muzzle, strong legs, conspicuous mittens and ears, are 

 other features of interest. The male attains a length of 

 almost thirty-six inches. The female is smaller and 

 lighter coloured. 



Fossil remains go to prove that in past times the Wild 



Cat was widely distributed in our country, when there 



were large tracts of uninhabited territory where it could 



roam at will in company with other extinct animals 



which flourished in Britain when its mammalian 



fauna was vastly different to what it is at the present day. 



Climate, and its influence, has had much to do with the 



extinction of these creatures of long ago, though, on the 



other hand, it must be admitted that the changes which 



our land has undergone accounts in a large measure for 



the variety of the faunal and floral life we are now able to 



claim. As civilisation extended westwards, its effect 



was bound to stamp out various forms of wild Ufe, which 



for so long a time had held undisputed sway, and to this, 



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