CHAPTER XVI 



HUNTERS AND HUNTED 



IN the world of nature there is a constant struggle for 

 existence every minute of the day ; every day in the year 

 hunters and hunted are in conflict with one another, the 

 one seeking the wherewithal to live, the other striving to 

 avoid destruction. Nature has been described as cruel ; be 

 that is it may, the weapons with which certain animals are 

 provided, their ingenuity in using them and their almost 

 saturnine cunning, render the lives of their adversaries 

 one long period of watchfulness. The domestic cat and 

 dog may well be taken as our examples of typical 

 predaceous animals that is to say, animals which prey 

 upon others. Their habits and their beautiful adaptations 

 for a hunting existence are easily observed. 



In the cat the sense of hearing is marvellously developed ; 

 its ears are in constant motion, that it may detect the 

 slightest sound, and noises which are quite inaudible to us 

 are plainly heard by the cat. Combined with its sharp 

 hearing, its sight is excellent ; moreover, its eyes are 

 readily adapted to changes in the intensity of the light 

 in sunlight the pupils are mere slips, by night they are 

 large and round. Despite their keen sight, cats cannot see 

 at night, as is popularly supposed ; after dark they rely on 

 their sense of touch, another highly developed faculty. 

 Every hair on the cat's body is exceedingly sensitive to 

 touch, that is why this animal has such a deep-rooted 

 dislike of having its fur rubbed the wrong way. It is, 

 however, in the whiskers and eyelashes that this sense is 

 most highly developed. Its well-padded feet, covered with 

 short hair, enable it to approach its prey without noise ; 

 its lissom body renders possible the use of its needle- 



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