224 FELlDiE. 



larger size, and their fur is longer and held in much 

 higher estimation than that of those inhabiting warmer 

 latitudes. 



The head of the Wild Cat is triangular, strongly 

 marked; the ears rather large, long, triangular, and 

 pointed ; the body strong, and rather more robust than 

 that of the Domestic Cat; the tail of equal size 

 throughout its length, or rather larger towards the ex- 

 tremity. The fur is soft, long, and thick ; the colour of 

 the face is a yellowish-grey, and a band of black spots 

 towards the muzzle ; the whiskers are yellowish-white ; 

 forehead brown; the head grey, marked with two black 

 stripes passing from the eyes, over and behind the ears ; 

 back, sides, and limbs grey, darker on the back, paler on 

 the sides ; with a blackish longitudinal stripe along the 

 middle of the back, and numerous paler curved ones on 

 the sides, which are darker towards the back, and become 

 obsolete towards the belly, which is nearly white. The 

 tail is annulated with light grey and black, and the tip is 

 of the latter colour ; the feet and insides of the legs are 

 yellowish-grey ; the soles of the feet are black, at least 

 in the male, of which sex Temminck declares it to be a 

 peculiarity : the colours of the female are altogether 

 paler, and the markings less distinct. 



The dimensions of the Wild Cat differ greatly, if we 

 take the statement of various naturalists. The medium 

 size of the full-grown male is as follows; the female 

 being always rather smaller : — 



Feet. In. Lines. 

 Length of the head and body . . . . 110 



„ of the head 3 8 



,, of the ears ... .023 



,, of the tail ... . 11 2 



