THE CAT. 71 



terriers gave chase till she took refuge in a corner, spitting 

 and growling. On trying to dislodge her, she flew at Mr. 

 St. John's face, over the dogs' heads ; but he struck her while 

 in the air, and she fell among the dogs, who soon despatched 

 her, even though it has been said that a wild cat has twelve 

 instead of nine lives. If one of these animals is taken, those 

 in the neighbourhood are sure to be also secured, as they 

 will all, after the manner of foxes, assemble round the body 

 of their relative." 

 The Domestic The origin of the domestic cat is difficult to 



Cat< determine. Cats were numerous in Egypt from 

 an early date, and are said to be native to Syria. Accord- 

 ing to Professor Rolleston the cat was not domesticated any- 

 where, except in Egypt, before the Christian Era. Few 

 animals are more familiar to the general reader, and few 

 therefore, need less description. The "Tabby" is perhaps 

 the commonest, though black, white, and tortoise-shell varieties 

 abound. The Angora or Angola cat, the Persian cat, and the 

 Manx cat, which latter is deficient in the useful and orna- 

 mental embellishment of a tail, are also well known. 



Cat There are many superstitions concerning the 



Superstitions. catj the black var iety coming in for the larger 

 share of popular suspicion. To steal one and bury it alive 

 was at one time regarded as a specific against cattle desease 

 in the Irish Highlands, while, according to Captain Brown, it 

 was the practice for families in Scotland to tie up their cats 

 on Hallowe'en to prevent their use for equestrian purposes by 

 witches during the night. " They have always been regarded 

 as attendants upon witches," says Mrs. Bowdich, "and witches 

 themselves have been said to borrow their shapes when on 

 their mysterious expeditions. I was once told that Lord 

 Cochrane was accompanied by a favourite black cat in a 

 cruise through the northern seas. The weather had been 

 most unpropitious ; no day had passed without some untoward 

 circumstance ; and the sailors were not slow in attributing the 



