ANIMALS OF THE 



sign be broke away, the animal abates of Its fierce- 

 ness and venery, and it produces nearly the same 

 effect upon its constitution as if castration had 

 actually taken place.* 



CHAPTER XX. 



ANIMALS OF THE CAT KIND. 



WE have hitherto been describing a class of peace- 

 ful and harmless animals, that serve as the instru- 

 ments of man's happiness, or at least that do not 

 openly oppose him. We come now to a bloody 

 and unrelenting tribe, that disdain to own his 

 power, and carry on unceasing hostilities against 

 him. All the class of the cat kind are chiefly dis- 

 tinguished by their sharp and formidable claws, 

 which they can hide and extend at pleasure. 

 They lead a' solitary ravenous life, neither uniting 

 for their mutual defence, like vegetable feeders, 

 nor for their mutual support, like those of the dog 

 kind. The whole of this cruel and ferocious tribe 

 seek their food alone, and, except at certain sea- 

 sons, are even enemies to each other. The dog, 

 the wolf, and the bear, are sometimes known to 

 live upon vegetables or farinaceous food ; but all 

 of the cat kind, such as the lion, the tiger, the 

 leopard, and the ounce, devour nothing but flesh, 

 and starve upon any other provision. 



Lisle's Husbandry, vol. ii. p. 329. 



