CONCERNING CATS 53 



succeeded in keeping the inmates on their side of the 

 garden wall. A cat, when once it has received the 

 charge from a " Gem " air gun, is a remarkably wary 

 animal. No cat ever ventured outside that Home with- 

 out keeping an eye on the windows of our house. If 

 any one appeared at a window the cat would show a 

 turn of speed that would do credit to any greyhound. 



I remember on one occasion looking out of the window 

 and seeing the lady novelist stroking "dear pussy." The 

 creature was purring contentedly, and all went well 

 until it happened to catch sight of me. In less time 

 than it takes to say " Jack Robinson " that cat had put 

 three gardens between itself and me. The astonish- 

 ment of the lady writer at the seemingly extraordinary 

 behaviour of " puss " was good to watch. But cats are 

 not without their redeeming features. They catch mice, 

 and the bolder spirits among them will stand up to 

 a rat. 



Further, the veneer of domestication covers the cat so 

 scantily that it is scarcely necessary to go into the 

 wilderness in order to study the ways of ^^f elides in a 

 state of nature. It suffices to watch puss. Note the 

 stealth with which she walks and the noiselessness of 

 her footfall. Contrast her silent gait with the noisy 

 pitter-patter of the dog. There is, of course, no neces- 

 sity for pussy to walk as though she were dodging a 

 policeman ; this practice is the survival of a trait 

 useful, nay indispensable, to the wild species, which 

 have to stalk over dried grass and shrivelled leaves a 

 prey which is keen of hearing and fleet of foot. Notice 

 the tremendous speed at which a cat can run and the 



