Solitude and Company 177 



currycomb went over this sensitive place 

 that he could hardly persuade himself not 

 to sit down. Cattle, too, like to have their 

 necks and heads rubbed, and one old 

 bull of my acquaintance used to bawl for 

 the comb every time he saw me. In the 

 early days of the railroad on the plains the 

 buffalo found the telegraph-poles to be 

 admirable scratching-posts. At first they 

 polished them, then tipped them over. 

 Cats stand more petting than do most 

 animals, and are always bunting against 

 the legs of chairs and people. In cold, 

 clear weather, as boys know, friction will 

 bring sparks out of a cat's fur, and if while; 

 you rub her back with one hand you offer 

 a knuckle of the other at her nose or ear, 

 you will feel the prick of the spark ; or, if 

 you hold her baby fashion, this pricking 

 will be felt in the hand that supports her- 

 hind legs. After this amusement you may 

 notice a burnt odor in the fur. And did I 

 see two blue flashes on our cat, Skimple- 

 jinks, as he went out into the snow on a 

 sharp night? A funny performance was 

 given by a pug one evening. She had 



