THE CAT KIND. 63 



it lives by depredation, fometimes attacks man, carries ofF cattle, fol- 

 lows the flock, breaks open the fheep-cots by night, and ravages with 

 infatiable voracity. Its eyes Ihine by night j and it is affertcd, not 

 without great appearance of truth, that it fees better by night than by 

 day. When deftitute of other provifion, it fcrapes up the graves, and 

 devours the dead bodies, how putrid foever. 



Befide the ftriped hyzena, there is alfo a fpotted hyzena, of congenial 

 forni and manners. 



THE 

 CAT KIND. 



THE Cat kind are diftinguifhcd by their claws, which they can hide 

 or extend at pleafure. They feek their food alone : and, except 

 at certain feafons, are enemies to each other. They devour nothing but 

 flelh, and ftarve on other provifion j ever fierce, rapacious, fubtle, and 

 cruel ; unfit for fociety among each other, and unprofitable were they 

 added to our lift of domeftics. Lions have been tamed fo far as to be- 

 come pageants of favage ftate ; and tigers have been fubdued, but ac 

 too great trouble and rifque to encourage the pradlice. 



Though differing in lize or colour, they are nearly allied, and one is 

 a fpecimen of the whole. All the kind are inflexible in their forms, and 

 wear the print of their natural wildnefs ftrongupon them. The cat kind 

 are alfo remarkable for their fliarpnefs and ftrength of claws (whofe gripe 

 is extremely tenacious), their fhortnefs of fnout, their roundnels of 

 head, and their large whilkers on the upper lip. Their teeth, in num- 

 ber thirty, are very formidable, but rather calculated for tearing their 

 prey than for chewing. They feed but flowly, and while eating, growl, 

 to deter others. Their hinder parts are much weaker than thofe before, 

 and feem lefs made for ftrength than agility. Nor are they fwift, but 

 rather furprife their prey than hunt it. They feize it with a bound, ex- 

 prefllng their fierce pleafure with a roar j timid and cowardly, they fel- 

 dom attack without advantage, but fly when the force oppofing them is 

 fuperior or equal. The lion himfelf will not venture a fecond attempt, 

 where he has been once repulfed. 



M2 The 



