More Photographic Evidence of Old Fox and Wild Cat Types

 It is always nice when you discover old books that back up your own research findings. My colleague, LM, recently found two sources noting the continued existence of wild cats in Wales and England after supposed extinction as well as noting the decline in fox numbers. One is Forrest, H.E. Catalogue of Peplow Hall Museum [formerly the Lord Hill collection at Hawkstone]. Shrewsbury 1907. Acks. Shropshire Archive.

The second source is The Fauna of Shropshire by (again) H. Edward Forrest, 1899. There are notes on continued wild cat existence and even more interesting are two photo plates showing and Old fox type and cubs as well as an Old wild cat with kittens.

(c)2025 British Wild Cats and Feral Study

These are old photographs but clearly show that these are not the current "wild tabby" being pushed as 'genuine' Scottish wild cats.  Even these, however, are likely to be hybridised as by the 1840s the genuine full blooded wild cat (if one had existed for hundreds of years -see The Red Paper 2022 Felids for details)was gone although some were still encountered that were quite large.

(c)2025 British Fox and Wild canid Study

Again, old photo but easily noticed is the absence of the "tear stain" muzzle marking and also lack of black which indicated new, imported foxes.  There is also something quite distinctive about the faces of the Old foxes that make them stand out.

Slowly but surely we have gathered taxidermy examples as well as photographic evidence of Old British foxes and Wild cats and those continuing the pushing of dogma through ignorance or for financial reasons can keep stamping their feet and name calling as much as they want.  Dogma is dogma which =lies.

Maybe some day a lab will volunteer to carry out DNA testing.