WILD-CAT HUNTING. 101 



mints " have the same venomous expression, the same 

 demonstration of fangs ; and probably no two living crea- 

 tures attack each other with more deadly ferocity and 

 hate. They will stare at each other with eyes filled 

 with defiance, and burning with fire ; one hissing, and 

 the other snarling; presenting a most terrible picture of 

 the malevolence of passion. 



The serpent in his attitudes is all grace — the cat, all 

 activity. The serpent moves with the quickness of 

 lightning while making the attack ; the cat defends 

 with motions equally quick, bounding from side to side, 

 striking with its paws. Both are often victims, for they 

 seldom separate until death-blows have been inflicted on 

 either side. 



The western hunter, when he wishes to cap the cli- 

 max of braggadocio, with respect to his own prowess, 

 says, " He can whip his weight in wild-cats." This is 

 saying all that can be said, for it would seem, consider- 

 ing its size, that the cat in a fight can bite fiercer, scratch 

 harder, and live longer than any other animal whatever. 



" I am a roaring earthquake in a fight," sung out 

 one of the half-horse,,half-alligator species of fellows — 

 " a real snorter of the universe. I can .strike a.s hanl as 

 fourth proof lightning, and keep it up, rough and tum- 

 ble, as long as a wild-€at." 



These high encomiums on the character of the pug- 

 nacity of the cat are beyond question. 



A " singed cat " is an excellent proverb, illustrating 



