CATS. 197 



glected this precaution ran the risk of seeing their cat 

 scampering through the fields, with a witch on its back, 

 on the high road to Norway. A black cat was com- 

 monly sacrificed by the ancients to Hecate, or among 

 the Scandinavians to Frea, the northern Hecate. A 

 black cat, sent with a prayer-book and a bag of sand 

 into a new house, so as to precede the proprietor in 

 possession, was formerly deemed essential to ensure 

 prosperity to the person changing his abode. To steal 

 a black cat and bury it alive is in the Irish Highlands 

 considered as a specific for a disorder in cattle termed 

 * black-legs,' which otherwise proves fatal. 



There is yet another peculiar feeling respecting cats, 

 namely, the strange antipathy which some persons en- 

 tertain towards them, and is equally unassailable with 

 that of superstition. Of course, in many instances ill- 

 ness and weak indulgence have greatly increased it ; 

 but in some cases it has been unconsciously harboured, 

 and in most is unconquerable. A friend of mine told 

 me that through life this feeling had accompanied him, 

 in spite of every endeavour made to eradicate it. When 

 a little boy he awoke one night, with that trembling 

 and cold perspiration which always assailed him when 

 a cat was in his vicinity ; and screaming for help, he 

 entreated the servant who entered, to take away the cat 

 which was in the room. The man searched, but found 

 no traces of puss. His young master still persisted she 

 was there, but a renewed search proved equally unavail- 

 ing ; nor could he compose himself to rest unless the 

 servant remained in the room till he was asleep. This 

 accomplished, the man left him ; and a second time my 

 friend awoke in the same manner, with the same appeals 

 for assistance. They were obeyed ; he himself joined 



