363 
COMMON CAT. 
Fells Catus. F, cauda elongata fusco-anmlata, corpore fasciis 
nigricantibus ; dorsalibus longitudinalihus tribus, later alibus spi- 
ralibus. Lin. Syst, Nat. p. 62. 
Yellowish-grey C . with dusky bands j three on the back longi- 
tudinal j the lateral ones spiral j the tail barred with dusky 
rings. 
Felis vulgo Catus. Gesn. Quadr. 98. Aldr. dig. 564. 
Felis pilis ex fusco-flavicante et albido variegatis, cauda annulis 
alternatim nigris et ex sordide albo flavicantibus. Briss, 
Quadr. 192. 
Le Chat sauvage, &c. &c. Buff^. 6. p. i. pL i, 2, SfC. 
Common Cat. Pennant Quadr, i. p. 2^^. 
The Cat, in a state of natural wildness^ and 
from which are supposed to have proceeded all the 
varieties of the domestic Cat^ is a native of the 
northern regions of Europe and Asia. In this its 
natural state it differs in some slight particulars 
from the domestic animal^ having a somewhat 
shorter tail in proportion, a flatter and larger 
head, and stronger limbs; and, from an exact 
anatomical inspection of its interior parts, it ap- 
pears that the intestines are somewhat shorter 
than those of the domestic Cat. The colour of 
the wild Cat is commonly a pale yellowish-grey, 
with dusky stripes and variegations ; those on the 
back running lengthwise, those on the sides 
transversely and with a curved direction : the tail 
is annulated with several alternate circles of 
blackish-brown and dull white : the tip of the 
nose and the lips are black. Even wild Cats, 
hpwever, appear to differ in their shades of 
