66 MOUNTAIN-CAT. 



kinds of animals; but is chiefly useful for clearing our 

 houses of mice and rats. The mouse, indeed, seems to be 

 its favourite meal; and its patient perseverance till the 

 victim comes within its reach, is the object of just ad- 

 miration. It seizes its prey with a bound ; and, as it can 

 see better in the night than in the day, it is seldom in 

 danger of perishing by famine, where its activity is equal 

 to its powers. 



The effect of cold water, and of particular smells, is 

 strikingly seen in cats. They love to bask in the sun, to 

 sit near the fire, and to rub against odorous substances. 

 Valerian, marum, and cat-mint, seem to intoxicate them 

 as it were with delight. 



This animal was the object of extraordinary veneration 

 among the ancient Egytians. " When the cat dies a na 

 tural death," says Herodotus, " all the people of the house 

 shave their eye-brows, in testimony of sorrow ; the animal 

 is also embalmed, and nobly interred." Among the 

 Mahometans, cats are particular favourites, on account of 

 their cleanliness ; while dogs are the objects of their 

 marked aversion. 



The cat is a native both of the Old and the New World, 

 for Columbus, in one of his voyages to America, was pre- 

 sented by a hunter with one caught in the woods. There 

 are several species ; such as the cat of Angora, the Persian 

 cat, and the tiger-cat. The wild cat is very seldom found 

 in England, but is not uncommon in other countries of 

 Europe. It seems likely, however, that this last animal is 

 only the domestic cat run wild again, and neglected. Its 

 colour is a yellowish white, mixed with a deep grey ; and 

 its fur is very soft and fine. 



THE MOUNTAIN-CAT. 



This animal is upwards of three feet long from the tip 

 of the nose to the extremity of the tail, and about 

 eighteen inches high. In shape and appearance it has a 

 strong resemblance to the common cat, except that the 

 tail is shorter in proportion to the length of the body. 



