Class I. WILD CAT. 95 



formed for rapine : the tail is of a moderate 

 length, but very thick, marked with alternate 

 bars of black and white, the end always black : 

 the hips and hind part of the lower joints of the 

 leg, are always black : the fur is very soft and 

 fine. The general color of these animals is of 

 a yellowish white, mixed with a deep grey : 

 these colors, though they appear at first sight 

 confusedly blended together, yet on a close in- 

 spection will be found to be disposed like the 

 streaks on the skin of the tiger, pointing from 

 the back downwards, rising from a black list 

 that runs from the head along the middle of the 

 back to the tail. 



This animal may be called the British tiger; 

 it is the fiercest, and most destructive beast we 

 have, making dreadful havock among our poul- 

 try, lambs, and kids. It inhabits the most 

 mountanous and woody parts of these islands, 

 living mostly in trees, and feeding only by night. 

 It multiplies as fast as our common cats, and 

 the females of the latter will often quit their 

 domestic mates, and return home pregnant by 

 the former. 



They are taken either in traps, or by shoot- 

 ing ; in the latter case it is very dangerous only 

 to wound them, for they will attack the person 

 who injured them, and have strength enough to 



