The Book of Cats. 243 



That a long course of domestic drill is insufficient 

 to win a Cat from its native savagery, is proved by 

 the following scrap, lately culled from the Sihansea 

 Herald:— 



"A fight of more than ordinary interest took 

 place on the bank of the canal, near Kidwelly Quay, 

 a few days ago. A domestic Cat, making her usual 

 walk in search of prey along the embankment, was 

 attacked by an otter of no small dimensions, and 

 was in an instant tossed into the middle of the 

 canal, and there had to fight, not for the ' belt,' but 

 for her life, in an uncongenial element. But very 

 soon they were observed by some sailors and 

 shippers, employed not far from the scene of con- 

 test, who hastened to witness the stranije occur- 

 rence. Either from fear of the men, or of its for- 

 midable antagonist, the otter relinquished its hold, 

 and poor Puss safely landed, amidst hearty cheers 

 and congratulations. But Puss, not being content 

 with the laurels she had won in the first contest, 

 went out again on the following day, and, strange 

 to say, the old combatants met again, and the otter, 

 with undiminished pluck, attacked the Cat on land. 

 The contest became very severe, but ultimately the 

 otter was glad to regain its watery refuge, and 

 leave Puss the victor the second time, without su'f- 



