244 THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 



animals. Few extensive rabbit warrens want two 

 or three depredators of this kind, where they com- 

 mit great havoc, particularly among the young in 

 summer. They sleep and repose in the holes, and 

 are often taken in the snares set for their prey. I 

 once came upon a cat, which had thus left her home : 

 she had newly kittened in the ridge of an uncut 

 corn field. Upon approaching she shewed every dis- 

 position to defend her progeny, and beside her lay 

 dead two half grown leverets. We have also known 

 cats, which, though they sought their prey in the 

 woods and fields, regularly carried it home before 

 devouring it, and in this way various young game 

 and hares were brought in. 



Cats are also particularly fond of fish, and in a 

 few instances have been known to catch them from 

 shallow streams. There is generally, however, a 

 dislike to water, and the examples of this departure 

 from their general habits are rare. They will also 

 often pursue and feed upon some of the larger 

 insects. There is one mentioned by Bingley, who 

 was a great enemy to cockroaches ; and we have 

 often seen them catch the common cricket, and 

 the white ghost-moth (Hepialus humuli), which may 

 be seen flying about a foot from the ground in the 

 summer evenings. One individual used to hunt 

 these insects regularly, and about-dusk might be seen 

 looking along the lawn for them ; when one was per- 

 reived, she crouched and approached rapidly, and 



