72 CURIOUS SPECIMEN OF A DRIED CAT. 



wondrous economy of nature that I am tempted to 

 send you for solution a question that has often 

 puzzled me. Why is it that the cat tortures her 

 mouse victim so sadly ? now giving it a canter, 

 and letting it fancy it can escape ; now putting 

 it squeaking back ; again allowing it a run ; again 

 shattering its hopes, and if interrupted carrying it 

 off to renew its cruel gambols elsewhere. There 

 must be an object in this, seeing that all cats act 

 similarly. The only reason that suggests itself to 

 my mind is that its flesh is rendered tenderer 

 thereby ; as we men attribute an extra superiority 

 of flavour to the hunted hare. Or is it that nature 

 intends it by way of caution to all other neighbour- 

 ing specimens of the murine race, who may view 

 from the corner of their holes an execution that 

 accords with the doings of the Inquisition ? 



