6o The Book of Cats. 



slye and wittie, and seeth so sharpely that he over- 

 commeth darkness of the nighte by the shyninge 

 lyghte of his eyne. In shape of body he is like 

 unto a Leoparde, and hathe a greate mouthe. He 

 doth deHghte that he enjoyeth his hbertie ; and in 

 his youth he is swift e, plyante, and merye. He 

 maketh a rufull noyse and a gastefulle when he pro- 

 fereth to fighte with another. He is a cruell beaste 

 when he is wilde, and falleth on his owne feete 

 from moste highe places : and never is hurt there- 

 with. When he hathe a fayre skinne, he is, as it 

 were, proude thereof, and then he goethe muche 

 aboute to be seene." 



It is commonly supposed that a Cat's scratch is 

 venomous, because a lacerated wound oftener fes- 

 ters than a smooth cut from a sharp knife. 



It is erroneously said that Cats feel a cutaneous 

 irritation at the approach of rain, and offer sensible 

 evidence of uneasiness : allusion may be found to 

 this in " Thomson's Seasons." Virgil has also made 

 the subject a theme for poetic allusion. 



The Chinese look into their Cat's eyes to know 

 what o'clock it is ; and the playfulness of Cats is 

 said to indicate the coming of a storm. I have 

 noticed this often myself, and have seen them rush 

 about in a half wild state just before windy weather. 



