THE DOMESTIC CAT. 18? 



Squirrels nourished by a cat. 



very pleasing entertainment to every attentive 

 observer. She has also been known not only to 

 nurse with tenderness the young of different in- 

 dividuals of her own species, but even those of 

 other kinds of animals. 



" A boy," observes Mr. White, (in his Na- 

 tural History of Selborne,) " had taken three 

 young squirrels in their nest. These small crea- 

 tures he put under a cat who had lately lost 

 her kittens; and found that she nursed and 

 suckled them with the same assiduity and affec- 

 tion as if they had been her own progeny. So 

 jnany persons went to see the little squirrels 

 suckled by a cat, that the foster-mother became 

 jealous of her charge, and in pain for their 

 -safety; snd therefore concealed them over the 

 ceiling, where one died. This circumstance 

 evinced her affection for these foundlings, and 

 that she supposed the squirrels to be her own 

 young." 



A more remarkable instance, however, occurred 

 some years ago in the house of a Mr. Greenfield, 

 of Maryland. A cat had kittens, to which she 

 frequently carried mice and other small animals 

 for food ; and among the rest she is supposed to 

 have carried a young rat. The kittens, probably 

 not being hungry, played with it ; and when the 

 cat gave suck to them, the rat likewise sucked 

 her. This having been observed by some of the 

 servants, Mr. Greenfield had the kittens and rat 

 Brought dqwn stairs, and put on the floor ; and 



