202 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



My wife rose from her seat, went softly to the door, 

 which stood ajar, to observe what was going on. The 

 cat led the dog to the cupboard which contained the 

 partridge, pushed off the plate which covered it, and 

 taking out my intended supper, laid it before her canine 

 friend, who devoured it quickly/ 



The following anecdote almost places the cat on a 

 level with the dog : l A physician of Lyons was 

 requested to inquire into a murder that had been 

 committed on a woman of that city. In consequence of 

 this request, he went to the habitation of the deceased, 

 where he found her extended lifeless on the floor, 

 weltering in her blood. A large white cat was mounted 

 on the cornice of a cupboard, at the far end of the 

 apartment, where he seemed to have taken refuge. He 

 sat motionless with his eyes fixed on the corpse, and 

 his attitude and looks expressing horror and affright, 

 The following morning he was found in the same sta- 

 tion and attitude ; and when the room was filled with 

 officers of justice, neither the clattering of the soldiers' 

 arms, nor the loud conversation of the company, could 

 in the least dogree divert his attention. As soon, how- 

 ever, as the suspected persons were brought in, his 

 eyes glared with increased fury, his hair bristled, he 

 darted into the middle of the apartment, where he 

 stopped for a moment to gaze at them, and then preci- 

 pitately retreated under the bed. The countenances 

 of the assassins were disconcerted, and they were 

 now, for the first time, abandoned by their audacious 

 effrontery.' 



There are several instances on record of cats finding 

 their way back to their former abodes under circum- 

 stances of great difficulty ; and the following appears to 



