THE CAT OF ALBION 85 



Maister Salmon, who published his " Compleat 

 English Physician," in 1693, describes "Catus, the 

 Cat," with careful minuteness, and with an ad- 

 miration founded apparently on the strange cures 

 wrought by a judicious use of its brains. " As to 

 its Eyes," he continues gravely, "Authors say that 

 they shine in the Night ; and see better at the full, 

 and more dimly at the change of the Moon. Also 

 that the Cat doth vary his Eyes with the Sun ; the 

 Pupil being round at Sunrise, long towards Noon, 

 and not to be seen at all at Night, but the whole 

 Eye shining in the darkness. These appearances 

 of the Cat's Eyes, I am sure are true ; but whether 

 they answer to the times of the Day, I have never 

 observed. It is a crafty, subtle, watchful Crea- 

 ture, very loving and familiar with Mankind ; but 

 the mortal Enemy of the Rat, Mouse, and every 

 sort of Bird, which it seizes on as its Prey. Its 

 flesh is not generally eaten, yet in some Countries 

 is esteemed an excellent dish." 



The cat's eyes seem to have been used as a sort 

 of rude clock for centuries in the East, where peo- 

 ple have few household utensils, and plenty of lei- 

 sure for observation. Pere Hue tells us that, when 

 travelling in the interior of China, he asked a pea- 

 sant boy, who was leading a buffalo to graze, if it 

 were yet noon. The child glanced first at the sky, 

 where the sun was hidden by driving clouds ; and, 



