THE CAT 



77 



On the other hand, if the approach of the 

 cat is not heard, its eyes betray its presence, 

 especially in the dark. Yet they are not lan- 

 terns that shed light ; their brilliancy is only 

 the reflection of luminous rays that strike upon 

 them. The vascular membrane is covered 

 with a reflecting filmy tissue, which pro- 

 duces, especially at night, when the puijil 

 is most dilated, a sparkling brilliancy. In 

 daylight the pupil is seen only through 

 a slit, which widens at nightfall. Certain 

 of the Eastern nations use their cats as 

 chronometers, though they are begin- 

 ning to find out that clocks are surer 

 things. The cat sees very distinctly in 

 the darkness, a cjuality it has in common 

 with many nocturnal creatures, including 

 birds. By day it distinguishes many 

 things better than the dog ever does. 



The color of the eyes varies with age. Young 

 cats have gray eyes, while later they usually 

 turn yellow or some other tint. We shall speak 

 presently, apropos of races, of white cats with 

 gray eyes, whose deafness has attracted the 

 attention of scientific men like Darwin and 

 Schinz, and still gives food for discussion. 



We have just called the cat a nocturnal 

 animal ; it certainly prefers to seek adventures 

 at night, which it makes hideous, especially 

 during the months of February and March, 

 with its discordant caterwaulings, calling for 



H.\Li--\ViLn Burmah C.\t 



From painting by E. Landor 



a mate on garden walls and roofs. It is said 

 that the cat owes its predilection for roofs to 

 Noah and his ark. A couple of cats saved 

 therein, having violated the restrictions imposed 

 on appetite (the ark being short of provisions). 



were condemned to espouse their loves on the 

 roof only during the months of February and 

 March but with free permission to fight and claw 

 and caterwaul as much as they pleased. Not 

 long ago an attcmjit was made in Fondon to 



SUNMXO Hkksklf 



lessen, by means of automatic tomcats, this noc- 

 turnal racket, which had become very annoying, 

 especially in the northern part of the city. A cat 

 was made of iron wire and cement and covered 

 with a real cat's skin and fur. To increase the 

 effect, glass eyes made luminous by an electric 

 battery were added, the battery also conveying 

 some motion to the limbs. The resemblance 

 was striking. When the tail was touched the 

 beast began to growl, and at the same instant 

 long pointed needles started out from the skin, 

 two capsules exploded in the mouth, and a 

 formidable noise was heard within. 



This contrivance produced the happiest 

 result on the very first night it was placed 

 in position. A real tomcat arrived, accom- 

 panied by four friends. The company placed 

 themselves around the automaton, which 

 remained, of course, perfectly calm and un- 

 moved. Soon the real tomcat lost patience. 

 He used his claws to incite his mute adver- 

 sary to anger, and presently attacked him. 

 Then the sham cat got his innings. The 

 capsules exploded, the eyes glared, the 

 needles darted out and stuck their points into 

 the paws of the aggressor, and the garden was 

 purged of cats for over a month. 



The purring of cats, which resembles the 

 whir of a spinning wheel, is to human ears an 



