260 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



"This, however, is to be accounted for on optical 

 principles." 



When the late Mr Baumgarten was at Damascus 

 he saw there a kind of hospital for cats. 



The house in which they were kept was very large, 

 walled round, and was said to be quite full of them. 



On inquiring into the origin of this singular institu- 

 tion, he was told that Mahomet, when he once lived there, 

 brought with him a cat which he kept in the sleeve of 

 his robe, and carefully fed with his own hands. 



His followers in that place, therefore, ever afterwards 

 paid a superstitious respect to those animals, and supported 

 them in this manner by public alms, which were very 

 adequate for the purpose. 



The patience, vigilance, craft, utility and cleanliness 

 of the cat have also obtained for it the highest degree of 

 protection in the Eastern mythology ; so far, indeed, that 

 it is there esteemed the noblest species of its tribe. 



A curious fact in the natural history of the cat is 

 related of one belonging to Dr Coventry, formerly 

 Professor of Agriculture at Edinburgh, which was born 

 perfect in all its parts, but lost its tail by an accident 

 which took place when it was a youngster. 



It had many litters of kittens, and in every one of 

 these there was one or more that was wanting in tail, 

 either wholly or partially. 



The following is related by a correspondent, who 

 knew the parties concerned, the circumstances and the 

 cat, and confirms my opinion that when kindly treated 

 cats attach themselves to persons more than to places. 



