64 CLU ADRUPEDS. 



The Cat, the only one of the kind taken under human protetftionj is a 

 faithlefs friend, oppofed to a nnore infidious enenny. The fcrvices of the 

 cat alone equal the trouble of raifing it ; and its ftrength is not fuffi- 

 cient to render its anger formidable. The lion or the tiger, if tamed, 

 are dangerous by their ftrength. The cat has only the appearance of at- 

 tachment, as may eafily be perceived by its timid approaches, and 

 fide-long looks. 



The cat goes with young fifty-fix days ; brings five or fix at a time. 

 The female ufually hides her retreat from the male, who would devour 

 her kittens. She fuckles them fome weeks, and accuftoms them be- 

 times to rapine. Lives about ten years j is extremely vivacious, and 

 holds out long ere it dies. Kittens are playful and amufing j but their 

 fport fcon becomes malice. They early Ihew a difpofition to cruelty ; 

 often look wiftfully towards the bird-cage, or fit centineis at the mouth 

 of a moufe- hole, and fhortly become expert hunters. 



We are told of the Greek monks of the ifle of Cyprus, teaching cats 

 to hunt the ferpents with which the ifland is infefted. Birds, rabbits, 

 hares, rats, mice, bats, moles, toads, frogs, are equally purfued, 

 though nor, perhaps, equally acceptable. The moufe feems to be the 

 favourite. The cat has the fcnfe of fmelling but meanly. Of all the 

 marks by which the cat difcovers its natural malignity, that of playing 

 and Importing with its little captive, before killing it outright, is the 

 moft flagrant. 



In the eyes of cats, the contraAion and dilatation of the pupil, is fo 

 confiderable, that the orifice, which by day appears narrow, by night 

 expands over the whole furface of the eye-ball, and their eyes feern on 

 fire. By this conformation, they fee beft in darknefs. 



The cat is particularly fearful of water, of cold, and of ill fmellsr; 

 laves to keep in the fun, to enjoy the fire, and to rub itfelf againft thofc 

 who carry perfumes; is exceflively fond of fome plants (valerian, 

 marum, and cat-mint) j thefe it fniells at a diftance, rubs againft them, 

 and, if they be planted in a garden, wears them out. It loves fifli, as 

 well boile.d as raw ; it fleeps very lightly ; often feems to fleep, the 

 better to deceive its prey j treads very foftly, and without noife ; is 

 cleanly to the laft degree. Its fur is ufually fleek and glofiy 3 eafily 

 eleftrified, fending forth fparks if rubbed in the dark. 



The wild cat breeds with the tame j is larger than the houfe cat; its 

 fur being longer, gives it a greater appearance than it really has ; its 

 head is bigger, and face flatter -, the teeth and claws much more formi- 

 dable i 



