212 DR. HAMILTON ON THE WILD CAT FROM IRELAND. [Mar. 3, 



Wild Cat being iutligenous to Ireland, I wrote to Mr. Tegetmeier 

 for further information, and he has kindly allowed nie to examine 

 the skin. As far as can be judged by external marks, I have no 

 hesitation in saying that this skin from Donegal is only another of 

 the many specimens which from time to time have been recorded as 

 Wild Cats, but wliieh are only the offspring of domestic Cats that 

 have run wild and have bred in the woods and mountains of the 

 district. It is a well-ascertained fact that the progeny of these Cats, 

 after two generations, always assume the grey, brindled, or tabby 

 fur ; but the difference in the tail and feet in the wild species 

 {Felis catus) is very distinct. 



Many of our early English naturalists who have written upon t!ie 

 subject have stated that the Wild Cat is to be found in Ireland. 

 But neither Pennant nor Bewick gives Ireland as its habitat. Sir 

 W. Jardine say.s : — "In Ireland it abounds in similar situations 

 as in England and Scotland, that is in the mountainous districts," 

 but his only authority was information derived from his brother, 

 an officer stationed with his regiment in the west of Ireland. Bell, 

 in the edition of 'British Quadrupeds.' 1837, says "some parts 

 of Ireland." This remark is repeated in the edition of 1S64, with- 

 out further comment, although at that date it had been well ascer- 

 tained that the animal did not exist in Ireland. Mr. Thompson, 

 in his 'Natural History of Ireland,' says: — "The Wild Cat 

 (Fe/is catus) cannot with certainty be given as a native animal." Mr. 

 Thompson appears to have thoroughly investigated the matter ; 

 and his opinion is of great importance. He says the largest Cat he ever 

 saw, which weighed 10 lb. 9 oz., was shot in a wild state at Shanes 

 Castle; this specimen was Felis catus in everything but the form 

 of the tail, which was not bushy at the end, and the fur, which was 

 finer in texture. In the Larne Journal, Feb. 183!>, it was reported 

 that the Wild Cat was found in Tullamore Park, and also used to fre- 

 quent the shores of Ballintrae ; " but on questioning Mr. Creighton, 

 Lord Roden's game-keeper, he informed me that he had never 

 seen this species in Ireland." He was able to compare tliis Cat with 

 two AYild Cats which had been brought to him in the flesh bv his 

 relative Mr. Langtrey, which had been killed a few days previous 

 in Aberdeenshire ; and he says it was as strong in every respect 

 as that animal but of a lighter grey colour, and he savs the animal 

 appeared to be a genuine hybrid between Felis catus and the 

 domestic Cat. 



Further investigations since Thompson's time all tend to prove the 

 non-existence of this species in the sister island. Sir Victor Brooke 

 writes: — "A well-authenticated instance of the occurrence of the 

 true Wild Cat in Ireland has never been recorded. Several sjiecimens 

 of Cats closely resembling in markings the Wild Cat have from 

 time to time been produced as veritable exam])les, but upon inspec- 

 tion by naturalists they have invariably proved to be descendants 

 of tame Cats run wild, perhaps for several generations. These 

 beasts attain a great size, and very closely assimilate to the true 

 Wild Cat in their form and coloration." 



