228 HISTORY OF OUADRUPEDS. 



THE WILD CAT. 



(Felis Catus^ Linn. Lc Chat sauvagc. Buff.) 



THE history of this animal is so intimately con- 

 nected with that of the common or domestic kind, 

 that we shall include our account of both under one 

 general head, and describe them as constituting" the 

 same species. 



The Domestic Cat, if suffered to escape into the 

 woods, becomes wild, and lives on small birds and 

 such other game as it can find there ; it likewise 

 breeds with the wild one. It is no uncommon 

 thing for females of the tame species to quit their 

 homes during the time they are in season, go in 

 quest of male Wild Cats, and return to the same 

 habitations impregnated by them. It is from this 

 connexion that some of our Domestic Cats so per- 

 fectly resemble those of the wild breed. 



The hair of the Wild Cat is soft and fine, of a 

 pale yellow colour, mixed with grey ; a dusky list 

 runs along the middle of the back, from head to 

 tail ; the sides are streaked with grey, pointing 

 from the back downwards; the tail is thick, and 



