NATURAL HISTORY. 77 



"What though care kill'd a cat, thou hast metal enough 

 in thee to kill care ?" SHAKSPKRE. 



232. Why do cats lap fluids so slowly ? 



Because when they drink, they lap, not with the tongue bent up- 

 wards at the tip and the sides, so as to form a kind of spoon, as is 

 the case with the dog, but with the tongue bent downwards at the 

 tip ; and hence they lap more slowly. They lap in this manner 

 for the purpose of filling the cup-shaped papillae of the tong~ie. 



233. Why is a, cat said to live " nine lives ? " 



Because they escape without injury from falls and concussions 

 that would either kill or maim most other animals. This immunity 

 from peril may be attributed mainly to the freedom or litheness of 

 the joints of the animal ; for whatever part of them is struck or 

 made to strike against any obstacle gives way like a spring ; and 

 the weight of the bones of their fore paws partly conduces to bring 

 them to the ground on their feet. 



234. Wliy does the coati burrow beneath the roots of trees ? 



Because from the peculiar nature of its snout, which it employs 

 as a burrowing instrument, it cannot construct a burrow with a 

 roof, as is the case with those animals which dig downward, or 

 laterally, with the paws. They, therefore, select the roots of trees, 

 the ramifications of which afford them roofed retreats, which the^ 

 could not themselves construct. These animals burrow in company, 

 and it is said that they often undermine trees to such an extent 

 that when even a moderate wind comes, they are overturned in 

 great numbers. 



235. Why have hears such an awkward and shuffling gait ? 



Because there are no clavicles to keep the shoulder bones steadily 

 apart v and thus, as the fore-legs are moved, the blade bones " work " 

 much more on the sides than is usual in animals. The hind legs 

 have what is usually the finest flexure or ankle joint in other 

 quadrupeds at the ground, in bears, and thus the first joint of 

 the:r hind legs bends the contrary way to that with which we are 

 raost %miliar. 



