200 NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE WILD CAT. 



THE cat, though an animal of prey, is a useful do- 

 mestic. It is neither wanting in sagacity nor sentiment; 

 but its attachments are stronger to places than to per- 

 .sons. The form of its body corresponds with its dis- 

 position : the cat is handsome, light, adroit, cleanly? 

 and voluptuous : it loves ease, and searches out the 

 softest furniture to lie upon. 



Cats go with young fifty-five or fifty-six days : 

 they are not so prolific as dogs, and their usual num- 

 ber is four, five, or six. Young cats are gay, lively, 

 pretty, and would be very proper to amuse children, 

 if the strokes of their paws were not to be feared : 

 their disposition, which is averse to all restraint,' ren- 

 ders them incapable of a regular education. We are 

 told nevertheless, of the Greek friars of Cyprus, hav- 

 ing taught cats to hunt, take, catch, and destroy the 

 serpents with which that island was infested ; their 

 scent, which in the dog is an eminent quality, is 'far 

 from being good, and therefore they do not pursue 

 animals which they no longer see ; but wait and at- 

 tack them by surprise. 



