62 THE CAT. 



please ; and often obtains confidence, merely to abuse 

 it. The form of its body, and its temperament, per- 

 fectly correspond with its disposition ; active, cleanly, 

 delicate, and voluptuous, it shews a peculiar fondness 

 for comfort and ease : it is timid and mistrustful, be- 

 cause its body is weak, and its skin more tender and 

 thin than a dog's, therefore they appear to be con- 

 stantly in dread of blows. Of all the marks which this 

 animal exhibits of the natural ferocity and malignity 

 of its disposition is that of sporting with the object it 

 means to devour ; and instead of putting an end to it3 

 sufferings by an immediate death, lengthening them 

 out by an appearance of release ; and when the poor 

 victim fancies it has escaped its tyrant, a sudden spring 

 renews its captive chains, and sets it once more tremb- 

 ling for its life. The cat is seldom known to make an 

 attack upon those animals which are capable of de- 

 fence, but birds and mice are its favourite food : it also 

 eats the young of rabbits and hares ; and, when very 

 hungry, will devour bats, moles, toads, and frogs. 



Although the cat is an inhabitant of our abode, it 

 cannot be called a dependant upon man, for it gives no 

 proof of pliancy or obedience, but follows its own in- 

 clinations and pursuits. It appears to have a natural 

 antipathy to water ; and is fond of rubbing itself 

 against those who carry any kind of perfume : it like- 

 wise shows an excessive partiality to the smell of vale- 

 rian, marum, and cat-mint : it seldom is known to 

 sleep sound ; and often imitates that lifeless appear- 

 ance, for the purpose of deceiving the unsuspecting 

 object of its prey. There is something peculiarly re- 

 markable in the pupil of this animal's eye, which in 

 the dark seems to expand over the whole ball, but 

 contracts into a small compass when presented to the 



