THE WILD CAT 



This species inhabits wild wooded districts in most of the European 

 countries. 



In England it has long been extinct, and the same may be said of 

 Wales, but in the more remote deer-forests of the Highlands of Scot- 

 land it still exists, chiefly in Argyllshire, the north-western parts of 

 Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, and the Reay Forest, Sutherland. 



The Wild Cat still holds its own or did quite recently in the wilds 

 of Knoydart on the west coast, where it has a typical fastness in the 

 forest sanctuary, a rough rocky hill clothed with birches and old rowans, 

 whence in the winter months it sallies forth to prey on rabbits or 

 game in the'^iome plantations. The true Wild Cat has never inhabited 

 Ireland. 



Mr. Millais, in his Mammals of Great "Britain and Ireland (vol. i. 

 p. 176) has graphically described its methods of attack as follows : 

 " Emerging at dawn and before sunset, this stealthy animal creeps in 

 and out of the forest growth and rocks looking for its prey. When 

 the victim is discovered it is carefully stalked by sight alone until closely 

 approached, when the Cat rushes in with a series of immense forward 

 bounds. So swift is this final attack that four-footed game finds it 

 impossible to escape, even if its terror-paralysed nerves did not benumb 

 its muscles." 



Charles St. John, who was well acquainted with this animal, says 

 {Wild Sports and U^tural History of the Highlands^ 8th ed. pp. 

 44-45) : " Inhabiting the most lonely and inaccessible ranges of rock 

 and mountain, the wild cat is seldom seen during the daytime ; at 

 night (like its domestic relative) he prowls far and wide, walking with 

 the same dehberate step, making the same regular and even track, 

 and hunting its game in the same tiger-like manner ; and yet the difference 

 in the two animals is perfectly clear. ... In the hanging birchwoods that 



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