CATS. 193 



to know what to do, but a sudden impulse prompted 

 him to take off his broad-brimmed hat, make a low 

 bow, and say, 'A very good morning to you, sir;' and 

 to his surprise, the jaguar turned round and walked 

 leisurely away. 



A very beautiful Ounce lived in the menagerie of the 

 Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, which became extremely 

 tame ; and Mdlle. Cuvier and I used very often to go 

 and take him a walk, leading him from his den to a 

 small space surrounded by high stakes. He required 

 no other confinement to ensure his obedience than 

 twisting our hands in the loose skin of his neck, and 

 he never failed at all times to recognise us with plea- 

 sure if we went into his vicinity. 



The Cheetah is gentle and affectionate, and success- 

 fully trained for hunting. 



CATS. 



CATS are diminutive examples of the feline race ; but 

 their fur is longer than that of others, and they bear a 

 greater resemblance to leopards than to lions. The idea 

 of majesty is not connected with them, but they are 

 celebrated for grace, elegance, suppleness, and insidious- 

 ness. There is yet a wild species in existence which 

 inhabits the mountainous and wooded districts of the 

 northern part of England, and also Scotland, where it 

 used formerly to be very abundant. It is scarcely 

 necessary to give a description even of the untamed 

 species, so well known are the general characters of these 

 animals. It will be quite sufficient to say that the head 

 of the latter is triangular, the soles of the feet of the 



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