IHE CAT. 



than the cry of the wild oat, or one more likely to be the origin 

 of superstitious fears in the mind of an ignorant Highlander. 

 These animals have great skiU 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 the^T attacking and severely wounding a man when their 

 retreat has been out off. Indeed, a wild cat once flew at me 

 in a most determined manner. I was fishing at a river in 

 Sutherlandshire, and in passing from one pool to another 

 Aad to climb over some rocky and broken ground. In doing 

 so I sank through some rotten moss and heather np 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 rush out so unexpectedly 

 from between my legs with every hair on her body standing 

 on end, making her look twice as large as she really was. I 

 had three small sky-terriers with me, who immediately gave 

 chase and pursued her tiU she took refuge in a comer of the 

 rock, where, perched in a kind of recess out of reach of her 

 enemies, she stood with her hair bristled out, and spitting and 

 growling Kke a common cat. Having no weapon with me I 

 laid down my rod, cut a good sized stick, and proceeded to 

 dislodge her. As soon as I came within six or seven feet of 

 the place she sprang right at my face, over the dogs' heads. 

 Had I not struck her in mid-air as she leapt at me I should 

 probably have got some severe wound. As it was, she fell 

 with her back half broken amongst the dogs, who with my 

 assistance dispatched her. I never saw an animal fight so 

 desperately, or one so difficult to kill. If a tame cat has nine 

 lives a wild cat must have a dozen." 



The colour of the wild cat' is more uniform than that of the 

 domestic species. On a ground colour of pale reddish-yellow 

 are dark streaks extending over the body and limbs, forming 

 pretty much the sort of pattern exhibited on the tiger's robe. 

 From the back of the neck to the spine a line of very dark 

 spots extend to the tail, which is short and bushy, and has a 

 black tip. The feet and insides of the legs are yeUowish grey. 

 In the female — which is smaller than the male — the colours 

 are not as distinct. The medium size of a full-grown male 

 wild cat is as follows : — Length of head and body, 1 foot 10 

 inches ; length of head, 3^ inches ; length of ears, 2 inches and 



