186 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Detection of murdercra. 



latch and came out. This practice she continued 

 for years." 



In the summer of 1800, a physician of Lyons 

 was requested to enquire into a murder that had 

 been committed on a woman of that city. He 

 accordingly went to the residence of the deceas- 

 ed, where he found her extended lifeless on the 

 floor and weltering in her blood. A large white 

 cat was mounted on the cornice of a cupboard, 

 at the farther end of the apartment, where he 

 seemed to have taken refuge. He sat motion- 

 less ; with his eyes fixed on the corse, and his 

 attitude and looks expressing horror and affright. 

 The following morning, he was found in the same 

 station and attitude; and when the room was 

 filled with officers of justice, neither the clatter- 

 ing of the soldiers' arms, nor the loud conversa- 

 tion of the company, could in the least degree 

 divert his attention. A* soon, however, as the 

 suspected persons were brought in, his eyes 

 glared with increased fury; his hair bristled; he 

 darted into the middle of the apartment, where 

 he stopped for a moment to gaze at them ; and 

 then precipitately retreated under the bed. The 

 countenances of the assassins were disconcerted ; 

 and they now, for the first time during the whole 

 course of the horrid business., felt their atrocious 

 audacity forsake them. 



The assiduity with which the female cat at- 

 tends her young, and the pleasure which she 

 s<?ems to take in all their playful tricks, afford a 



