36 CARNIVORA. 



The value of its fur is about Is. to Is. 6d. for a good 

 skin, but the number collected is small. 



Six hundred and twenty-six Wild Cats were killed in 

 Prussia in the winter of 1885-6. 



It is said to sell its life dearl}-, and to be very fierce 

 when attacked, as the following account shows : — 



St. John, in his " Natural History of the Highlands," 

 p. 45 : — " In the hanging birch woods that border some of 

 the Highland streams and lochs the Wild Cat is still not 

 uncommon, and I have heard their wild and unearthly 

 echo far in the quiet night as they answer and call each 

 other. I do not know a more harsh and unpleasant cry 

 than that of the Wild Cat, or one more likely to be the 

 origin of superstitious fears in the mind of an ignorant 

 Highlander. These animals have great skill in finding 

 their prey, and the damage they do to the game must 

 be very great, owing to the quantity of food which they 

 require. When caught in a trap, they fly without 

 hesitation at any person who approaches them, not 

 waiting to be assailed. I have heard many stories of 

 their attacking and severely wounding a man, when 

 their escape has been cut off. I was fishing in a river 

 in Sutherlandshire, and, in passing from one pool to 

 another, had to climb over some rock and broken kind 

 of ground. In doing so, I sank through some rotten 

 heather and moss up to my knees, almost upon a Wild 

 Cat, who was concealed under it. I was quite as much 

 startled as the animal herself could be, when I saw the 

 wild-looking beast so unexpectedly rush out from between 

 my feet, with every hair in her body standing on end, mak- 

 ing her look twice as large as she really was. I had three 

 small Skye terriers with me, who immediately gave 

 chase, and pursued her till she took refuge in a corner 

 of the rocks, where, perched in a kind of recess, she 



