it is at least as plentiful in Ross, Cromarty, and Sutherland; but, like most of the Highland vermin, its numbers have
everywhere been much reduced by trapping. It still finds a comparatively safe retreat, however, in the solitudes of the
great deer-forests. Its gaelic name is Fiadchait. As regards Ireland I have no knowledge of its range; Mr. Thompson
seems to have been doubtful as to its existence there (Nat. Hist. Irel. vol. iv. p. 11); but according to Mr. Andrews
it was formerly well known by the name of Cat-Fiadkac/id in the wilder parts of co. Kerry (Zoologist, 1854, p. 423).
In Scotland the favourite resorts of the Wild Cat are the birch-woods and coppices along the shores of the lochs ; but it is
also found on the bare hill-sides, where it lives in the cairns of stones and boulders. Only very rarely, when hard pressed
by hunger, will it approach the dwellings of mankind. I t is not very fleet of foot; and if surprised at a distance from the
shelter of trees or rocks, it will turn on either man or dog: an instance of this is well related in the late Charles St. John’s
‘ Wild Sports of the Highlands.’ The best general accounts of the habits of this species which I have seen are those
given by Prof. Blasius (Saugethiere Deutschlands, p. 165-6) and F. von. Tschudi (Thierleben der Alpenwelt, pp. 205-207).
Herr Donetz has pointed out that the cranial differences between the Wild and the Domestic Cat given by Blasius (I. c.
p. 160) are not constant; and I can fully confirm the observation. In two skulls of F. catus (one in my own collection,
the other in the Museum of the College of Surgeons) the frontals and squamosals do not come in contact, being separated
by conjoined processes of the parietals and alisphenoids, thus presenting the most important characters attributed to the
tame Cat by Blasius.
Fossil remains of this species have been found in various places in Great Britain, viz. in the Cave of Kirkdale by
Dr. Buckland, and in Kent’s Hole by the Rev. J. Mac Enery,—also from the brick-earth of Gray’s Thurrock, in Essex.
These belong to the Pleistocene epoch, and present no differences whatever from those of the existing species.
Fur rather long, soft. General colour dark grey, with black lines on top of head and down the back. Two black lines
on cheek, and two or three bands of same on outside of fore and hind legs. Underparts inclined to rufous. Tail long and
bushy, same colour as the body, with several rings, and tip for about two inches black. The rings do not extend entirely
around the tail, the underpart of which is light grey or rufous. Nose to root of tail 23| inches. Tail llg in.
The skull o f the Wild Cat is short and broad, with a large evenly rounded brain-case, wide interorbital space, short broad
nasals, and a flat forehead. In some skulls the frontals and squamosals are in contact; but this is not always the Case, for
it is not very unusual to meet with specimens having these parts separated by the processes of the parietals and
alisphenoids as mentioned by Mr. Alston: I have seen several skulls where this state of affairs existed. The face is
short, and lies below the level of the forehead. Upper canines moderate in size.