ANECDOTES ABOUT CATS 271 



of hay, corn, etc., which probably afforded a fine hunting 

 ground in the way of rats and mice. 



It was a common practice when I was leaving home in 

 the mornings to find Topsy in the front garden awaiting 

 my departure with the results of her latest efforts laid out 

 for my approval, consisting of one or more dead rats ; 

 and this occurred on so many occasions and always in 

 the same place in the garden which I must pass on my 

 way to the gate, that I am sure it was done for the 

 purpose of showing she was doing her duty. This cat, 

 which by his particular desire I left behind me when my 

 friend, Mr Thomas Davy, took the place off my hands, 

 was the mother of the black tabby I before mentioned as 

 falling into the whitewash, as he kindly sent me the latter, 

 knowing what a high opinion I entertained of her 

 mother's qualities. One peculiarity of the daughter I 

 omitted to mention was her utter fearlessness with dogs, 

 and she had many hair-breadth escapes with the number I 

 kept. 



I remember one occasion when I lived at Cedar 

 Lodge, Downend, and had twelve or fifteen out at 

 exercise on the lawns. At that time most of them were 

 Dandies, Skyes, Fox Terriers and Sheepdogs, with a few 

 Bulldogs and others. I was alone with my kennelman 

 only, when suddenly I noticed Lunatic, the name I 

 gave to the black tabby, sitting calmly in the centre of 

 one of the lawns quite surrounded with dogs ! 



I was horrorstruck for a moment, as I knew if she 

 moved she would be torn in pieces, so shouted to 

 Hale to call off the dogs while I slowly approached 



