THE WILD CAT. 
11 
The Wild Cat, Fells catus, Linn., 
Cannot be given with certainty as a native animal. 
I have received communications from correspondents mentioning the 
existence and occasional capture of wild cats, in various parts of Ireland, 
but I do not consider that we have yet sufficient data for including Felis 
catus in the Irish catalogue. As remarked by Bell, in his “ History of 
British Quadrupeds,” p. 179, — “In stating the localities and estimating 
the numbers of this species, it is necessary to guard against confounding 
with it the numerous instances of escaped domestic cats returning to a 
state of almost absolute wildness, breeding in the woods, and feeding on 
birds and small quadrupeds. These, though far less powerful than the 
true wild cat, are very destructive to game of every description, and, still 
retaining some traces of their old domesticity, they often revisit the farm- 
yard and carry off the poultry.” In reference to the same subject, A. E. 
Knox, Esq., in his work entitled “ Game Birds and Wild Fowl ; their 
Friends and their Foes,” adds : — “ Gamekeepers need not be told that a 
more incorrigible poacher does not exist than a common cat which has 
been bred in the woods, or which, although originally an efficient mouser 
and a useful occupant of the barn, has gradually acquired the habits of a 
vagrant. The strength and size which a male cat will sometimes attain, 
under such circumstances, is extraordinary, although he never arrives at 
the proportions of his irreclaimable congener.” 
The following memoranda will put the reader in possession of the prin- 
cipal evidence which has come under my observation in favour of the ex- 
istence of the true wild cat in Ireland : — 
In Bell’s “ British Quadrupeds,” above quoted, it is stated, in reference 
to the distribution of this species over the British Islands, that it “ is now 
almost entirely restricted to Scotland, some of the woods in the North of 
England, the woody mountains of Wales, and some parts of Ireland” No 
further particulars as to localities are given. 
Sir Wm. Jardine informed me, by letter dated 23rd October, 1837, that 
the wild cat is found in Erris (Co. Mayo), and that a specimen obtained 
there, within a few years previously, was then in the possession of Mr. St. 
Clair O’Malley, Lord Lucan’s agent. This information was derived from 
Sir William’s brother, when stationed with his regiment in the West of 
Ireland. 
The author of “ Wild Sports of the West ” (letter 33) describes wild cats 
as killed in Erris, and properly distinguishes them from tame cats run wild. 
A. E. Knox, Esq., in his work already quoted, says (p. 253), — “Al- 
though comparatively rare in Ireland, the species still exists among some 
of the mountains of Connaught.” I have since learned from that gentle- 
man that Maxwell’s “Wild Sports of the West” was his authority. 
J. V. Stewart, Esq., has included the wild cat in his catalogue of the 
mammalia of Donegal. 
Mr. W. Andrews stated, in 1842, that in the glens of Caragh (Co. Kerry) 
it is known to the peasantry, who call it by an Irish name, signifying 
11 hunting cat.” — (See Saunders' Newsletter , Dec., 1842.) Mr. 14. Chute, 
of Blennerville, in that county, was not, however, aware of the existence 
of this animal in 1846, although he had no doubt that it “was a native 
at one time, particularly about Caragh Lake.” 
In the “Larne Journal,” Feb., 1839, p. 29, it is stated that “the wild 
cat is found in Tollymore Park, near Sleive Donard, and is also said to 
frequent the caves on the shore at Ballintoy ; ” but, on questioning Mr. 
