Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1895 — WILD CAT FOR A BOA. [ARTICLE]

WILD CAT FOR A BOA.

Novel Use to Which a Man Has Put One of the Terrors of the Woods. Those ladies who are fond of wearing fur boas around their throats might learn adesson from F. H. Wood, p. river man, who is now in the city. Mr. Wood has affiandsome neck ..muffler of tawny skin, but he does not keep it in a bandl>ox at night. He locks it in a strong cage, for his boa is a half-grown wild _cat, with TulLgrown' claws and teeth. Wood has attracted considerable attention during the last few days by strolling about the city with a young bay lynx or wild cgt perched on his •'Ol’d'mwtwvalists'el’atarthfst it Is impossible to domesticate, a specimen of the “felis catus,” Which is the Latin name for Mr. Wood’s strange pet. He has refuted that theory, however, by partially taming the savage little beast’ Many scars and scratches on his hands and face bear evidence to the fact that it was no.easy job to get on speaking terms with Mr. Wild Cat, Jr., and it will allow no one but its owner to come near it. If a stranger approaches the kitten will jump straight at his throat. Wood isf'very fond of the animal. He caught it when it was only G days old, after its mother had slain four large and raised it by band. The animal is now about the size of a large tom cat, but is very different In appearance from the common tabby. It has huge feet, long, sharp claws, a head like a tiger's the tufted ears which distinguishes the lynx family and a short tail which moves incessantly.— Paducah News.