ANIMALS' BEDS 7 



But the spot which the cat had selected for its couch, was 

 one at which a hot steam-pipe passed under the road, 

 and the mud was there baked into a warm, dry cake, 

 which made not only a clean but an artificially-heated 

 sleeping-place. But the oddest taste in beds developed 

 by a cat, was that entertained by a very highly-bred 

 grey Angora, which was justly petted and admired 

 by the family in which it lived. For some months 

 it would only sleep in or upon a hat, if such could 

 be found, ladies' hats being preferred. If it could 

 discover one with the inside uppermost, it would 

 lie inside it. If not, such was its love for this form 

 of couch, it would curl itself round the brim, and 

 with its long, furry tail and pliant body, made a fine 

 winter trimming to a summer hat, though gentlemen 

 who found it cuddled round their tall hats regarded 

 its taste with less admiration. By some accident, a 

 drawer in which all the ' summer ' hats had been 

 disposed for the winter was left open for some 

 days, after which it was discovered that all the 

 hats had been tried in turn, the cat having finally 

 selected one adorned with white laburnum flowers, 

 which never recovered from the ' ironing' to which 

 it had been subjected. Even the animals of the farm 

 have certain preferences in their sleeping arrangements. 

 Cattle and sheep, when left out to 'lie rough,* always 

 sleep under trees to avoid the dew ; and sheep, if 



