[ 294 ] 



THE CAPE CAT *. 



This is an elegant animal ; and is found in a wild 

 state, in the mountains at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 It is considerably larger than the Domestic Cat» 

 The colour is a bright tawny ; marked on the back 

 with oblong black streaks, and in the other parts 

 with blotches of the same. A skin measured by 

 Mr. Pennant, was found to be three feet from the 

 nose to the tail. 



In their native mountains, these animals are very 

 destructive to Rabbets, young Antelopes, Lambs, 

 and even to all the different species of Birds. In dis- 

 position, however, they are not so fierce as the ge- 

 ncrahty of their tribe; and when taken, they are ea- 

 sily rendered tame. Labat says, (as it seems though, 

 without sufficient foundation,) that their appearance 

 bespeaks cruelty, and their eyes a great degree of 

 ferocity. 



When Dr.Forster and his son touched at the Cape, 

 in the year 1795, one of these animals was offered to 

 him for sale. But from its having a broken leg, he 

 refused it, under the apprehension that it woidd not 

 be able to bear a passage to Europe. It w^as brought 

 in a basket to his apartment, where he kept it above 

 four-and-twcnty hours ; which gave him an oppor- 

 tunity, nt>t only of describing it, but, in some mea- 

 sure, of observinG[ its manners and econoniv. These 



* Synonyms. — Felis Capensis. lAnn. — Tiger Cat of the Cape of 

 Gcodllope. Forster. — Tiger Bush Cat. Kolbcn. — Nsussi. Lalai. — 

 Cape Cat. Pamant.—ShatJ's Gen. ZoolpL 88. 



