94 THE WILD CAT. 



are not so dark nor so clearly defined as those of the spine. The tail is barely half the 

 length of the head and body. The fur is tolerably long and thick, and when the animal 

 is found in colder regions, such as some parts of Germany and Russia, the fur is 

 peculiarly long and thick. 



In the wilder and less cultivated parts of Scotland, the Wild Cat is still found, and is 

 as dangerous and enemy to the game of Scotland as is the ocelot to that of tropical 

 America. 



The amount of havoc which is occasioned by these creatures is surprising. Mr. 

 Thompson mentions, in his Notes on the Mammalia of Ireland, that a gamekeeper had 

 frequently noticed certain grouse feathers and other debris lying about a " water-break " 

 which lay in his beat, and had more than once come upon some of the birds lying with- 

 out their heads, but otherwise in such excellent condition that they were taken home 

 and served at table. Suspecting the Wild Cat to be the culprit, he set a trap, and cap- 

 tured two of these animals, an old and a young one. 



Here, again, is exhibited the strange predilection which the Cat tribe seem to feel for 

 the heads of the creatures on which they feed. No less than five grouse were dis- 

 covered at the same time lying headless on the ground, and it is probable that their 

 destroyers would have contented themselves with the heads only ; and, like the blood- 

 sucking tiger mentioned on p. 159, would have killed victim after victim for the sole 

 purpose of feasting upon their heads. The keeper expected to secure one or two more 

 of these feline marauders, for the young Wild Cats remain with their parents until they 

 are full grown and able to take upon themselves the cares of wedded life. 



The Wild Cat is said by some naturalists to be indigenous to Ireland, but is denied 

 that honor by others. In Maxwell's " Wild Sports of the West " are several anecdotes 

 of a fierce savage breed of Cats running wild, and depopulating the rabbit-warrens sadly. 

 One of these animals, which was killed after a severe battle, was of a dirty-gray color, 

 double the size of the common house Cat, and its teeth and claws more than porportion- 

 ately larger. This specimen was a female, which had been traced to a burrow under a 

 rock, and caught in a rabbit-net. With her powerful teeth and claws she tore her way 

 through the net, but was gallantly seized by the lad who set the toils. Upon him she 

 turned her energies, and -bit and scratched in a most savage style until she was 

 despatched by a blow from a spade. The wounds which she inflicted were of 

 so severe a character that lock-jaw was threatened, and the sufferer was sent to an 

 hospital. 



Besides these huge Wild Cats, which may, in all probability, be the true Felis Catus, 

 there are many house Cats which run away from their rightful home, and, taking up 

 their residence in the rabbit-warren, are as formidable enemies to rabbits and poultry as 

 those of the larger kind. No less than five males were caught at one time in an 

 outhouse, penned up until the morning, and then shot ; after which execution the 

 neighboring warren largely increased its population. 



The Wild Cat takes up its residence in rocky and wooded country, making its home 

 in the cleft of a rock or the hollow of some aged tree, and issuing from thence upon its 

 marauding excursions. It has even been known to make its domicile in the nest of 

 some large bird. It is rather a prolific animal, and, were it not kept within due bounds 

 by such potent enemies as the gun and the snare, would rapidly increase in numbers. 

 As it is, however, the Wild Cat yields to these foes, and slowly, but surely, vanishes 

 from the land. The number of its family is from three to five, or even six. The female 

 is smaller than the male. 



In total length, an adult male Wild Cat is about three feet, of which the tail occupies 

 nearly a foot. This does not seem to be a very considerable length, as there are dom- 

 estic Cats which equal or even exceed these dimensions ; but it must be remembered 

 that the tail of the Wild Cat is much shorter than that of the domestic animal. 



Of the fiery energy which actuates this animal when attacked and roused to fury, the 

 following extract from St. John's " Highland Sports " will give an excellent idea : 



" The true Wild Cat is gradually becoming extirpated, owing to the increasing pre- 

 servation of game ; and, though difficult to hold in a trap, in consequence of its great 



