200 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



was no further restraint, and the two pets were daily 

 companions. Their mistress, however, received another 

 fright ; for puss gave a slight growl, and seizing the 

 bird in her mouth, leaped on to the bed, her tail swelled 

 out, her hair erect, and her eyes as big as four. The 

 bird was of course given up for lost : but the door 

 being accidentally left open, a strange cat had come in ; 

 and it was for the preservation of the bird that the cat 

 had seized him, and as soon as the intruder was driven 

 away, she set the prisoner at liberty. Cats have often 

 been trained to act as game-finders, without offering 

 the slightest damage to their capture. They have given 

 the alarm when thieves have been breaking in; and 

 manifested great proofs of reflection and thought, which 

 may be called reason, without degrading this act of the 

 intellect. One belonging to my sister invariably goes 

 to her room when she rings her bell, but does not offer 

 to stir when any other bell in the house is sounded. 

 Another, in the service of a friend, was in the habit of 

 going into the garden, catching a bird, and bringing it 

 to the cook, appearing to ask her to dress it ; and yet 

 it was perfectly her own suggestion. 



A brother of mine had a favourite tortoise-shell cat, 

 named Monkey, who always sat on his shoulder when 

 he was shaving, and evinced every sign of deep attach- 

 ment. He left her under the care of some friends when 

 he went abroad ; and two years after, these ladies were 

 surprised the evening he was expected home, at the ex- 

 treme restlessness of the animal. She heard the arrival 

 of the carriage at the garden gate before they did ; and 

 ere the bell was rung, she was furious to be let out to 

 meet him. Her joy was indescribable ; and the next 

 morning she took her place on his shoulder as usual, 



