THE CAT. 3:3 



under his dominion and protection. This numerous and ferocious 

 race, which by most naturalists is denominated 



THE CAT KIND, 



Is distinguished by their formidable claws, which are capable 

 of being drawn in, or extended at pleasure. They lead a solitary 

 life, prowling about for prey, and, instead of uniting in herds 

 like the herbivorous kinds, they ramble about alone in search of 

 food, and are generally enemies to one another. Although greatly 

 differing in size and in colour, they all correspond in form and 

 in disposition : they are equally fierce and rapacious, and all of 

 them carnivorous ; the common Cat, through habits of domesti- 

 cation, is brought to eat farinaceous food, but never prefers it ; 

 and all other animals of the cat kind refuse the aliment that is 

 not tinged with blood. 



We begin the description of this race, with this common do- 

 mestic animal the Cat the only one of the tribe that has been 

 taken under human protection. 



THE CAT 



Is, when young, of all animals the most sportive and playful: 

 but as its years increase, it begins to grow more serious, and also 

 more artful. 



Any description of an animal so universally known, and of 

 which the habits and propensities are exposed to daily observa- 

 tion, would be superfluous : we may, however, observe, that al- 

 though cats cannot absolutely see in the dark, as is often asserted, 

 yet they see much better in the twilight, or when it is dusky, 

 than in the broad day-light. During the day, the pupil of this 

 animal's eye is contracted, but in the dusk it resumes its natural 

 roundness. It then enjoys perfect vision, and takes advantage 

 of it to discover and seize its prey. 



The nocturnal meetings of these creatures, seem a curious 

 peculiarity. They call one another together by loud cries, and 

 sometimes meet in great numbers. When they are met, they 

 look at one another in a menacing manner, writhe themselves 

 into a thousand threatening postures, and, without any apparent 

 cause, fly upon one another with the most furious rage, with 

 teeth and claws indiscriminately wounding and lacerating one 

 another. 



These furious engagements never happen but in the night : 

 they sometimes continue several hours, and the most horrid 

 squalls accompany them through the whole time of their duration. 



The cat is fond of certain perfumes, and is particularly at- 

 tracted by the smell of valerian : it has a remarkable aveiaion 



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