THE CAT 245 



and claws. In telling you the story of the Auxil- 

 iaries I pointed out to you the arrangement of the 

 cat's teeth, so admirably adapted for coping with 

 live prey. I will refresh your memory on this sub- 

 ject by showing 

 you a sketch of 

 these teeth. How 

 well formed for 

 cutting flesh are 

 those molars, with 

 their sharp points 

 that play one Cat>s ScuU Showing Teeth 



against another like the blades of a pair of scissors ! 

 And those canine teeth, so long and sharp aren't 

 they veritable daggers for the cat to stab the mouse 

 with ? How horribly they must pierce the poor little 

 victim's body! A mere glance at this set of teeth is 

 enough to assure one that it belongs to a fierce hunter. 



"It is by surprise and stealth that the cat seizes 

 its prey. Hence it must have special foot-gear to 

 render its approach noiseless, to deaden completely 

 the sound of its footsteps. And that reminds me of 

 something. When you were younger, you were told 

 the wonderful exploits of Puss-in-Boots, how Puss 

 caught partridges and offered them to the king, as 

 a gift from the cat's master, the future Marquis of 

 Carabas. ' ' 



"Oh, yes," cried Emile, "I remember. The art- 

 ful creature, with a grain of wheat in its paw and the 

 bag open, lay in wait for the partridges in a furrow. 

 What astounding success we credited it with! The 



