128 SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS: Chap. V. 



lieve that, in the same manner as many birds, whilst they 

 ruffle their feathers, spread out their wings and tail, to 

 make themselves look as big as possible, so cats stand 

 upright at their full height, arch their backs, often raise 

 the basal part of the tail, and erect their hair, for the 

 same purpose. The lynx, when attacked, is said to arch 

 its back, and is thus figured by Brehm. But the keepers 

 in the Zoological Gardens have never seen any tendency 

 to this action in the larger feline animals, such as tigers, 

 lions, &c; and these have little cause to be afraid of any 

 other animal. 



Cats use their voices much as a means of expression, 

 and they utter, under various emotions and desires, at 

 least six or seven different sounds. The purr of satis- 

 faction, which is made during both inspiration and ex- 

 piration, is one of the most curious. The puma, cheetah, 

 and ocelot likewise purr; but the tiger, when pleased, 

 " emits a peculiar short snuffle, accompanied by the clos- 

 ure of the eyelids." 7 It is said that the lion, jaguar, 

 and leopard, do not purr. 



Horses. — Horses when savage draw their ears closely 

 back, protrude their heads, and partially uncover their 

 incisor teeth, ready for biting. When inclined to kick 

 behind, they generally, through habit, draw back their 

 ears; and their eyes are turned backwards in a peculiar 

 manner. 8 When pleased, as when some coveted food is 

 brought to them in the stable, they raise and draw in 

 their heads, prick their ears, and looking intently to- 

 wards their friend, often whinny. Impatience is ex- 

 pressed by pawing the ground. 



7 ' Land and Water,' 1867, p. 657. See also Azara on the 

 Puma, in the work above quoted. 



8 Sir C. Bell, ' Anatomy of Expression,' 3rd edit. p. 123. 

 See also p. 126, on horses not breathing" through their 

 mouths, with reference to their distended nostrils. 



