Feline Intelligence. 299 



astride the wheel, and might have made his escape had not he 

 fallen under the eyes of Tom, who, as quick as a flash, was 

 after the thief. Leaping into the air, he fell on the man's shoul- 

 ders and set his teeth firmly into his neck. There was a 

 howl and a crash that brought the family to the yard, and 

 there they found the tramp rolling on the ground and mak- 

 ing desperate efforts to get away from Tom's rigid jaws. 

 Finally the Cat was induced to relax his hold, and the 

 wounds of the tramp being cared for, he was allowed to pro- 

 ceed on his way. 



More wonderful still is what follows : When the master 

 wants to bait his cows and keep them within a certain area 

 he instructs Tom to watch them, and the allotted task is per- 

 formed with all the faithfulness and wisdom of a shepherd's 

 dog. Any disposition to stray outside the limits is checked, 

 the erring animal being hustled back by Torn, who, attach- 

 ing himself to her caudal extremity, remains there until she 

 is brought back to where she belongs. 



No animals seem to require human sympathy so much as 

 Cats, or to be so capable of giving sympathy in return. 

 Where they have formed a strong attachment to a person 

 they are loath to be away from his society and follow 

 him wheresoever he goes, giving caresses and expecting 

 a liberal share of the same in return. I have been upon a 

 bed of sickness and a favorite Cat, which I always addressed 

 as Puss, would, whenever the opportunity occurred, make 

 her way into my room, and, jumping upon the bed, lay her 

 head against my face in the most endearing manner, and 

 purr her sweetest and gentlest, ever and anon stopping to 

 express her sympathy by licking my forehead or uplifted 

 hand. Even when Puss has been suffering from maladies to 

 which all flesh of her kind is heir, I have sat by her side 

 and stroked her head, and have read in the look which she 

 gave me that she felt my sympathy and appreciated it 

 beyond any power of expression of hers to declare. She 

 seemed to think at all times that I was wholly her own, and 



