182 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



_ Description. 



But would'st thou see an instance \et more dear, 

 A touch more rare thy dog u.ay still afford 



The example high go read it on the bier, 

 If chance some canine friend survive his lord. 



Awhile survives his latest dues to pay, 

 Beyond the grave his gratitude to prove. 



Mourn out his life in slow but sure decay, 

 Martyr sublime of friendship and of love 1 



From him who drives the pilferer from the gate. 

 To him who leads the eyeless to the door, 



All prove without the dog, how weak the great, 

 And with that constant friend bow strong the poor ! 



Then grateful own the dog's unrivall'd claim, 

 A claim not e'en the lion can dispute: 



The proud usurper of another's fame, 



The gen'rous dog shall be the kingly brute. 



THE WILD CAT. 



THIS animal, from which all the varieties of 

 the domestic cat have proceeded, inhabits both 

 Europe and Asia, and is sometimes found in the 

 woody and more unfrequented parts of our own 

 island. The head and limbs are larger than those 

 of the domestic cat; and the colour is a pale yel- 

 lowish-grey, with dusky stripes, those on the 

 back running lengthwise, and those on the sides 

 transversely and in a curved direction. The 

 tail is shorter than in the domestic kinds, and is 

 annulated with dusky rings. The female breeds 

 in hollow trees, and produces four yonng at a 

 litter. 



