64 The Book of Cats. 



the sparrow flew away. This vexed Pussy ex- 

 tremely, and he said, 



" As long as I live I will eat first and wash my 

 face afterwards." 



Which all Cats do, even to this day. 



A French writer says, the three animals that 

 waste most time over their toilet are cats, flies, and 

 women. 



The attitudes and motions of a Cat are very 

 graceful, because she is furnished with collar-bones. 

 She can, therefore, carry food to her mouth like a 

 monkey, can clasp, can climb, and can strike side- 

 ways, and seat herself at a height upon a very 

 narrow .space. 



The lateral movements of the head in Cats are 

 not so extensive as in the owl, but are, neverthe- 

 less, considerable. A cat can look round pretty far 

 behind it without moving its body, which might be 

 apt to startle its prey. The spine of the Cat is 

 very full and loose, in order that all its movements 

 in all possible directions and circumstances may be 

 free and unrestrained. For this purpose, too, all 

 the joints which connect it's bones together are ex- 

 tremely loose and free. Thus, the Cat is enabled 

 to get through small apertures, to leap from great 

 heights, and even to fall in an unfavourable posture 



