36 The Book of Cats. 



but of the value of which I leave you to judge for 

 yourself. I need not, I think, remind you that 

 there is a natural history written by one Monsieur 

 Buffon, " containing a theory of the earth, a general 

 history of man, of the brute creation, and of vege- 

 tables, minerals, etc.," of which Mr. Barr published 

 an English translation in ten goodly volumes. 

 Thus, in this work of world-wide celebrity, is the 

 feline race discussed. I give the author's words as 

 I find them : — 



*' The Cat is a faithless domestic, and only kept 

 through necessity to oppose to another domestic 

 which incommodes us still more, and which we can- 

 not drive away ; for we pay no respect to those, 

 who, being fond of all beasts, keep Cats for amuse- 

 ment. Though these animals are gentle and 

 frolicksome when young, yet they, even then, 

 possess an innate cunning and perverse disposition, 

 which age increases, and w^iich education only 

 serves to conceal. They are, naturally, inclined to 

 theft, and the best education only converts them 

 into servile and flattering robbers ; for they have 

 the same address, subtlety, and inclination for 

 mischief or rapine. Like all knaves, they know 

 how to conceal their intentions, to watch, wait, and 

 choose opportunities for seizing their prey ; to fly 



