90 THE CAT. 



to mire and water, and is a handsome, cleanly, and agreeable 

 creature. 



The perseverance of the cat in watching its prey is remark- 

 able, and indeed extraordinary. This animal loves to bask in 

 the sun-shine, and is exceedingly fond of sitting by a warm fire; 

 so that from these circumstances, one might naturally suppose it 

 to be unable to bear the cold ; and yet, in watching its prey, it 

 will frequently sit motionless several hours together among snow 

 in the severest weather. 



Some naturalists have treated the cat somewhat hardly in their 

 descriptions, and have represented it as insensible of kindness, 

 and incapable of attachment, which is certainly a mistake. It is 

 as much attached to its master as any other animal, except the 

 dog, and expresses its affections by the most engaging caresses, 

 and the most agreeable purring. It is also reproached with 

 treachery and cruelty but are not the artifices which it uses the 

 particular instincts which the all-wise Creator has given it, in 

 conformity with the purposes for which it is designed ? Being 

 destined to prey upon so lively and active an animal as the mouse, 

 which possesses so many means of escape, it is requisite that it 

 should be artful ; and indeed the cat, when well observed, ex- 

 hibits the most evident proofs of a particular adaptation to a 

 particular purpose, and the most striking example of a peculiar 

 instinct suited to its destination. 



A celebrated writer says, that " the cat is one of those ani- 

 mals which has made the least return to man for his trouble by 

 its services ;" but it is certain, that it renders very essential ser- 

 vices to man, and merits well his kindness and protection. 

 Authors seem to delight in exaggerating the good qualities of 

 the dog, while they depreciate those of the cat: the latter, how- 

 ever, is not less useful, and certainly less mischievous, than the 

 former. The delight, however, which this animal takes in sport- 

 ing with the unfortunate victim that falls under its power, in pro- 

 longing its tortures, and putting it to a lingering death, it must 

 be confessed is not a very favourable trait of its character. 



The cat is very much attached to the place where it has been 

 brought up, or long made its abode; and instances frequently 

 occur, of cats having returned to the place from whence they 

 had been carried, although at several miles' distance, and even 

 across rivers, when it was impossible that they should have had 

 any knowledge of the road. 



In former times, this animal was held in so high estimation, 

 that its preservation constituted, in some countries, an object of 

 public attention. In the reign of Howel, the good king of 

 Wales, who died A. D. 948, laws were made to fix the price of 



