the feline race; but their fur is longer
than that of others, and they bear a greater resemblance to leopards
than to lions. The idea of majesty is not connected with them, but they
are celebrated for grace, elegance, suppleness, and insidiousness. There
is yet a wild species in existence, which inhabits the mountainous and
wooded districts of the northern part of England, and also Scotland,
where it used formerly to be very abundant. It is scarcely necessary to
give a description, even of the untamed species, so well known are the
general characters of these animals. It will be quite sufficient to say,
that the head of the latter is triangular, the soles of the feet of the
male are always black, their tails are bushy, they spring furiously upon
whoever approaches, and utter unearthly cries. Mr. St. John, when
walking up to his knees in heather, over broken ground, came suddenly
upon a wild cat. She rushed out between his legs, every hair standing
up. He cut a good sized stick; and three Skye terriers gave chase till
she took refuge in a corner, spitting and growling. On trying to
dislodge her, she flew at Mr. St. John's face, over the dog's heads; but
he struck her while in the air, and she fell among the dogs, who soon
dispatched her, even though they say, that a wild-cat has twelve instead
of nine lives. If one be taken, those in the neighbourhood are sure to
be also secured, as they will all, in the manner of foxes, assemble
round the body of their relation.

Domestic cats often run away to the woods and subsist on their own
hunting; but these are not to be taken for the real wild cat. The female
of the latter is the smaller of the two, and retires into the fissures
of rocks, or takes possession of some large bird's nest, when she is
about to have young ones. They are found all through Germany, Russia,
Hungary, and the North of Asia, where their fur is much more valued than
it is here, probably on account of the length and quality of the hair.

Our house cats are, by most naturalists, supposed not to have descended
from the above wild species. Professor Temminck ascribes their origin
to the Nubian cat, found in that country by M. Rueppell, but Mr. Bell
differs from him.

Cats were numerous in Egypt, where they were much prized, and honoured
with being embalmed. In Abyssinia they form part of a marriage dowry,
for fear the mice should eat up the other portions. Nevertheless, it
will be perhaps more like the truth