WILD CATS. 
55 
this formula, as it is an ordinary and very 
convenient form of expression.” 
“ Are there any wild animals of the cat- 
kind at all like common cats,” asked Dick. 
“Yes, several. The wild-cat of Europe 
resembles the domestic cat in so many par¬ 
ticulars that many people have supposed 
that the latter were only a variety of the 
former somewhat modified by being domes¬ 
ticated. Nevertheless, there are several im¬ 
portant differences, as you may see by this 
print;” and Miss Louisa held up a print of 
the European wild-cat. “It is larger and 
stouter than the common cat, and its paws 
especially are very muscular. The tail 
bears about the same proportion in length 
to the body, hut is thicker, and increases in 
size, instead of tapering, towards the tip. 
The fur is thick and rather woolly, of a dark, 
grayish-yellow or sometimes a bluish-gray 
colour, and is marked upon the sides and 
legs with indistinct black bars. It is very 
wild in its habits, and is only found in 
thickly-wooded tracts abounding with rocks 
and precipices, which afford a shelter to it 
while rearing its young. In England they 
are now becoming very rare, and are found, I 
