48 THE WILD CAT. 



sylvatica ;) and an instinct corresponding to that which 

 brings the mice to prey upon the nuts, brings the cats, 

 which have their dwellings in the holes of the adjoining 

 rocks, to prey upon the mice. As the coppices are in 

 general close, and the mice numerous, the hunting is 

 carried on during the day, and the cats are very bold. 

 They are said to combine for the purpose of giving 

 battle to intruders. That, however, is not well authen- 

 ticated ; but we have had personal evidence that they 

 show front when surprised, and that they will follow 

 yelling along at the top of a precipice, at the bottom of 

 which one is walking, for a very considerable distance ; 

 and apparently in great wrath, more especially, if it be 

 twilight. In places where they abound, they are much 

 more dangerous plunderers of poultry -houses than foxes 

 are ; as they can climb where foxes cannot reach, 

 enter by a smaller opening, and if they be taken in 

 the fact, instead of making their escape by stealth or 

 stratagem, as reynard does upon such occasions, they 

 spring in the face of those who open the door ; and 

 though there is no great danger of their attack being 

 mortal, it is alarming, because unexpected, and the 

 lacerations which they inflict, are not easily healed. 



The Highlanders of Scotland, with whom the wood- 

 cat is any thing but a favourite, call it chat phaidhiach, 

 the raven-cat. The wood-cat, like the rest of the 

 genus to which it belongs, is understood to eat only 

 what it kills, unless when pressed by the greatest 

 necessity. Its range of food is, however, very con- 

 siderable, as it catches insects as well as birds and 

 small quadrupeds. Its fondness for fish is very great, 

 and notwithstanding the dislike that it has to the water, 



