SUPERSTITION AND WITCHCRAFT. 199 



If a kitten comes to a house in the morning, it is lucky ; 

 if in the evening, it portends evil of some kind, unless it 

 stays to prevent it. 



A cat's hair is said to be indigestible, and if one is 

 swallowed death will ensue (Northern). 



Milton, in his " Astrologaster," p. 48, tells us : " That 

 when the cat washes her face over her eares we shall have 

 great store of raine." 



Lord Westmoreland, in a poem "To a cat bore me 

 company in confinement," says : 



Scratch but thine ear, 



Then boldly tell what weather's drawing near. 



The cat sneezing appears to be a lucky omen to a bride. 



It was a vulgar notion that cats, when hungry, would eat 

 coals ; and even to this day, in some parts there is a doubt 

 about it. In "The Tamer Tamed, or, Woman's Pride," 

 Izamo says to Moroso, " I'd learn to eat coals with a hungry 

 cat"; and in " Boduca," the first daughter says, "They are 

 cowards ; eat coals like compelled cats." 



"The crying of cats, ospreys, ravens, or other birds upon 

 the tops of houses in the night time are observed by the 

 vulgar to presignify death to the sick." — Brand. 



There is also a superstition that cats will suck the breath 

 of infants. Nothing could be more ridiculous. The forma- 

 tion of the cat's mouth is not well adapted for such action, 

 the under jaw. being shorter than the upper, which is one 

 reason why it laps fluids instead of drinking. Cats will 

 creep into cradles,, but for no other purpose than that of 

 sleep, the bed and clothes being warm and soft, and of 

 course comfortable ; yet instead of doing harm, they help 

 to keep the child's temperature more even in cold weather. 

 Of course, if they lie on the infant, it is a different matter. 



