2o6 SIGNS. 



Amongst the other explanations offered is the one that 

 it may have originated with the sign of a certain Cafo/i 

 Fidele, a staunch Protestant in the reign of Queen Mary, 

 and only have been changed into the cat and fiddle by 

 corruption ; but if so it must have lost its original appella- 

 tion very soon, for as early as 1589 we find " Henry Carr, 

 signe of the Catte and Fidle in the olde Chaunge." Formerly 

 there was a "■ Cat and Fiddle at Norwich, the Cat being 

 represented playing on a fiddle, and a number of mice 

 dancing round her." 



Cat and Bagpipes. — Was not uncommon in Ireland, 

 this instrument being the national one in Dlace of the 

 fiddle. 



When doctors disagree, who shall decide? Thus I 

 leave it. 



Cat and Mutton, from Cassell's " Old and New London," 

 vol. iv., p. 223 : 



"Near the Imperial Gas Works, Haggerston, is Gold- 

 smith's row ; this was formerly known as Mutton Lane, a 

 name still given to that part of the thoroughfare bordering 

 on the southern extremity of London Fields, where stands 

 a noted public-house rejoicing in the sign of the 'Cat and 

 Mutton ' affixed to the house, and two sign-boards, which 

 are rather curious. They have upon them the following 

 doggerel lines : 



Pray Puss do not tare, I Pray Puss do not claw, 



Because the Mutton is so rare. | Because the Mutton is so raw. 



Cat and Wheel. — Most likely to be a corruption of 

 Catherine Wheel; there was a sign of this name in the 

 Borough, Southwark. 



In France some signs are still more peculiar, as a '' Cat 

 Playing at Raquet " {Chatte qui peiote), "Fishing Cat" {La 

 Chatte qui pcche), " The Dancing Cat," and the well-known 

 ^'Puss in Boots." 



"Whittington and his Cat" is by no means uncommon, 

 ^nd was not unknown in the early part of the seventeenth 



