The Book of Cats. yi 



feut an English writer differs from him ; thus : — 

 " Every one must have observed what are usually 

 called the " whiskers " on a Cat's upper lip. The 

 use of these, in a state of nature, is very important. 

 They are organs of touch ; they are attached to a 

 bed of close glands under the skin ; and each of 

 these long and stiff hairs is connected with the 

 nerves of the lip. The slightest contact of these 

 whiskers with any surrounding object is thus felt 

 most distinctly by the animal, although the hairs 

 are of themselves insensible. They stand out on 

 each side in the lion, as well as in the common 

 Cat ; so that, from point to point, they are equal 

 in width to the animal's body. If we imagine, 

 therefore, a lion stealing through a covert of wood 

 in an imperfect light, we shall at once see the use 

 of these long hairs. They indicate to him, through 

 the nicest feeling, any obstacle which may present 

 itself to the passage of the body : they prevent the 

 rustle of boughs and leaves, which would give 

 warning to his prey if he were to attempt to pass 

 through too dense a bush, and this, in conjunction 

 with the soft cushions of his feet, and the fur upon 

 which he treads (the retractable claws never com- 

 ing in contact with the ground), enable him to 

 move towards his victim with a stillness even 



