164 Lloyd's natural history. 



a heavy fine on Cat-killers. As compensation, a payment of 

 as much wheat was required as was needed to form a pile 

 sufficient to cover over the body of the animal to the tip of 

 the tail, the tail being held up vertically, with the Cat's muzzle 

 resting on the ground." 



Habits. — With regard to the habits of Domestic Cats, Jar- 

 dine, in the original issue of this volume of the " Naturalist's 

 Library," writes as follows: — "There is perhaps no animal 

 that so soon loses its cultivation, and returns apparently to a 

 state nearly wild. A trifling neglect of proper feeding or 

 attention will often cause them to depend on their own re- 

 sources ; and the tasting of some wild and living food will 

 tempt them to seek it again, and to leave their civilised home. 

 They then prowl about in the same manner as their wild con- 

 geners, crouching among covert, and carefully concealing them- 

 selves from all publicity. They breed in the woods or thickets, 

 and support themselves upon birds or young animals. Few exten- 

 sive Rabbit-warrens want two or three depredators of this kind, 

 where they commit great havoc, particularly among the young 

 in summer. They sleep and repose in the holes, and are often 

 taken in the snares set for their prey. I once came upon a 

 Cat, which had thus left her home ; she had newly kittened 

 in the ridge of an uncut corn-field. Upon approaching, she 

 showed every disposition to defend her progeny, and beside 

 her lay dead two half-grown Leverets. We have also known 

 Cats, which, though they sought their prey in the woods and 

 fields, regularly carried it home before devouring it, and in this 

 way various young game and Hares were brought in. 



11 Cats are also particularly fond of fish, and in a few instances 

 have been known to catch them from shallow streams. There 

 is generally, however, a dislike to water, and the examples of 

 this departure from their general habits are rare. They will 

 often pursue and feed upon some of the larger insects. There 



