250 



THE WILD CAT. 



a furious contest ensued, which was continued until they 

 reached the village of Barmbrough, a mile distant from the 

 wood, and was fatally terminated in the church-porch, where 

 " the man killed the cat, and the cat killed the man" A rude 

 painting in the church to this day records the transaction ; 

 and the simple villager exhibits to the inquisitive stranger the 

 variegated pavement stained, as he says, with the blood of the 

 combatants. 





THE DOMESTIC CAT. (Felis 



Var. domestica.) 



The existence of the common wild cat (Felis catus) in our 

 own country and in many parts of the European continent, 

 possessing colours and markings closely imitated in some indi- 

 viduals of the house cat, has led to the very general notion, 

 scarcely ever called in question, that the former is the species 

 from which the domestic race have descended. Professor Bell 

 has so well discussed this matter, that I cannot resist intro- 

 ducing his observations here. " Among the many reasons 

 for believing this opinion to be erroneous, we may, in the 

 first place, instance the great difference in the general con- 

 formation of the two animals, especially in the length and 

 form of the tail, which in the wild cat is strong and robust, 

 and as thick at the end as at the middle and the root ; 

 whilst that of the domestic cat tapers towards the tip. The 

 fur, too, of the former, is thicker and longer j and although 

 the colours are somewhat like those which occur in some indi- 



