tFlE DOMESTIC CAT. 



Catching fish 



A friend of Doctor Darwin's saw a cat catch a 

 trout, by darting upon it in a deep clear water, 

 at the mill at Weaford, near Litchfield. The 

 animal belong-ed to a Mr. Stanley; who had fre- 

 quently seen her catch fish in the same manner 

 in the summer, when the mill-pool was drawn so 

 low that the fish could be seen. Other cats have 

 been known to take fish HI shallow water, as they 

 stood on the bank. This may probably be a na- 

 tural act of taking prey, which acquired delicacy 

 by domestication, lias, in general, prevented cats 

 from using, though their desire of eating fish con- 

 tinues in its original strength. Our artist has illus- 

 trated the above facts by the annexed engraving. 



We slmll close this subject with Gray's justly 

 admired Verses on the death of a favourite cat; 

 said to have been accidentally drowned in a tub' 

 6f gold fishes. 



on a lofty vase's sJde, 

 Where China's gayest art had dy'd 



The azure flow'rs that blow; 

 Demurest of the tabby kind, 

 The pensive Selima reclin'd, 



Gaz'd ou the lake below. 



Her conscious tail her joy declar'd : 

 The fair round face, the snowy beard, 



The velvet of her paws ; 

 Her coat, that w : :h the tortoise vies, 

 Her ears of jet, and em'rald eyes, 



She saw ; and purr'd applause. 



Still had she gaz'd ; but midst the tide 

 Two angel forms were seen to glide, 

 The genii of f Tie stream ; 

 2 B 2 



