THE WILD CAT. '2g5 



seemed perfectly analogous to those of our domestic 

 Gats. It ate raw fresh meat, and appeared to at- 

 tach itself very much to its feeders and benefactors. 

 In its disposition it was gentle, and had been ren- 

 dered perfectly tame. After Dr. Forster had fed it 

 a few times, it followed him like ^ tame favourite Cat. 

 It WcrS fond of being stroked and caressed, rubbed, 

 its head and back against the person's clothes who fed 

 it, and seemed very desirous of being noticed. It 

 purred, as our domestic Cats do when they are 

 pleased. At this time it was about nine months old^ 

 and had been taken when quite young in the woods *i 



THE WILD CAT'j", 



The "VVlld Cat, from which all the varieties of 

 the Domestic Cat have proceeded, is a native both 

 of Europe and Asia, and is even yet to be found in 

 some of the woody and more unfrequented parts of 

 diir island. It has a lar2:er head and stron2;er limbs 

 than the Dorriestic Cat ; and its colour is a pale yel- 

 lowish-grey, whh dusky stripes^ those on the back 

 running lengthwise, and those on the sides trans- 

 versely and in a Curved direction. The tail is shorter 

 than in the domestic kinds, and is barred with dusky 

 rings. It breeds in hollow trees, and produces four 

 Voupo at a litter; and, in the places where it in- 

 habits, it makes destructive havock amonsr the 

 neighbouring Lambs, kids, and poultry. 



* Phil. Trail, vol. 71. p- S. paper by Dr. Forster. 

 f Synonyms. — Felis Catus. Li/ut. — Coinraou Cat. Pfiiu. — Chat 

 Sauvajje. Biifjoji. — Bc\.\ ^ucul. 205, 208. 



U 4 



