THE CAT 



Oliver 



A long series of cats has reigned over my 

 household for the last forty years or thereabouts. 

 The present occupant of the throne is a large, 

 young, grey Tabby, — Oliver by name. Not that 

 he is in any sense a Protector, for I doubt whether 

 he has the heart to kill a mouse. However, I saw 

 him catch and eat the first butterfly of the season, 

 and trust that the germ of courage, thus mani- 

 fested, may develop with age into efficient mousing. 



As to sagacity, I should say that his judgment 

 respecting the warmest place and the softest 

 cushion in a room is infallible, his punctuality at 

 meal times is admirable, and his pertinacity in 

 jumping on people's shoulders till they give him 

 some of the best of what is going, indicates great 

 firmness. 



Thomas Huxley to Mr. J. G. Kitton. 



112 



