Wild Gats. 145 



that of the Felis domesticus, except in the ''taper." 

 Indeed, in length it is farther removed from the latter ; 

 hence a mystery which baffles all my attempts to solve it. 

 The behaviour of the animal certainly seems to point to 

 its having been a real wild cat, for it repeatedly sprang 

 at its assailants, growling and " swearing " all the while. 

 And something more remains to be told. A bailiff who 

 had charge of the wood was met by the boys shortly 

 after, to whom they reported- the encounter, with its 

 result ; to be told by him, how glad he was they had 

 killed " that wild cat," and he wished they had " done 

 the same wi' t'other un." For it appears there were two 

 in the wood — likely male and female — the man adding 

 that they had been there some time, had done no end of 

 damage, destroying hares, rabbits, and pheasants, and 

 that he could never get near enough to shoot them, they 

 were so " wonderful cunnin' an' shy." 



Unfortunately, this woodman has long ago gone to join 

 " the majority," else I should belikes know more about 

 the animal whose caudal appendage perplexes me. 



I have received account of still another remarkable 

 feline killed at a later date — seven years ago — in the 

 parish of Foy, some six miles farther up the Wye. A 

 farmer, whose land lies along the river, destroyed this 

 one ; and, like the birdnesting boys, thinking it of no 

 more value than rat or weasel, forthwith had it interred 

 — skin, tail, and all ! Had he but known that I would 

 have given guineas for the skin, it would now, no doubt, 

 be among my mounted specimens, instead of gone to 

 decay under a muck heap. For the description I have 

 had of the animal — size, shape, colour, everything, this 

 time including the tail — seems conclusive evidence of its 

 having been a true Felis catus. The %pcount of its doings 



