DOMESTIC CAT. 67 



In one instance a cat seized a more unusual prey. 

 As we were strolling near the house, we heard the 

 cry of some animal in distress, and, on going to the 

 spot whence it proceeded, observed a cat crouched in 

 the long grass of a meadow with some animal in its claws 

 that was struggling for liberty. As we approached 

 nearer, the cat scampered off, leaving its booty behind, 

 which to our surprise turned out to be a large stoat, 

 that likewise took to its legs as soon as it was re- 

 leased, not apparently injured. This was to me quite 

 a new fact, that any cat, at least of the domestic 

 kind, would attack so powerful and fierce an animal 

 as the stoat. Had it been undisturbed, would it 

 have devoured its prey ; or was the latter merely 

 seized from that innate propensity to rapine and vio- 

 lence which characterizes the feline race ? That the 

 stoat was conscious of being in stronger hands would 

 appear from the cries which it uttered, and from its 

 making no attempt to attack the cat, evidently under 

 the influence of great alarm. 



It is curious to observe what slight deviations 

 from the course which Nature has prescribed for each 

 species of animal are sometimes sufficient to mo- 

 dify, and even entirely overrule, their instincts ; at 

 least in the case of domesticated animals, these 

 instincts are liable to be much perverted. My cat 

 has a kitten nearly full-grown, to which she fre- 

 quently brings mice, offering them with evident 

 symptoms of complacency, and sitting quietly by 

 while the kitten devours them. Yet, when the 



