COUSINS OF CATS 



229 



House Cat. 



"Ill spite of its cliinbino- pi-opensi- 

 ties, the Ocelot is a swift ruiiiuT, tind 

 leads the dogs, with Avhoui it was for- 

 merly always hunted, a wild chase, 

 crossing and doubling among the water- 

 ways of its haunts in a manner to throw 

 the keenest hound off the scent." 



" Now my three grinning 

 heads," said Dodo, gazing at lier 

 favorite picture ; " are they three 

 kinds of cats, or a mother, fatlier, 

 and child? I think they look 

 like a family." 



" Three different species," said 

 Dr. Roy ; " and the heads are 

 drawn in exact proportion, so 

 that you may judge of their 

 size. The smallest is the House 

 Cat, an emigrant like our- 

 selves. The next in size is 

 the Wildcat, or Bay Lynx, 

 and the largest Avith the hairy 

 ear tufts is the savage Can- 

 ada Lynx, called Loup Cervier 

 by the early travellers. 



" You all know the House 

 Cat and its liabits : how it 

 purrs Avhen it is going to 

 sleep or feels pleased ; how 

 it sharpens its claws on car- 

 pet or Avood, drawing tliem 

 in and out at will ; liOW Canada Lynx. 



"Wildcat. 



