THIRSTY ANIMALS 1 35 



nutriment at second-hand in the juices of the leaves of 

 the trees which have their roots in the moisture. Seals, 

 apparently, do not drink, neither do cormorants and 

 penguins ; but there can be little more evaporation 

 from their bodies than from those of fish, and their 

 food is wet and moist. A more difficult question is 

 that of the water-supply of Arctic animals in winter 

 possibly they eat snow. There is abundant evidence 

 that, though many animals can exist without water for 

 long periods, this abstinence is not voluntary, and when 

 unduly protracted causes suffering and loss of health. 

 The whole cat tribe are proverbially ' tough/ and can 

 not only recover from frightful bodily injuries, but 

 endure hunger and thirst longer than most animals. 

 Instances of cats lost or stuck fast in hollow walls, 

 where, in addition to deprivation of food, they have 

 been cut off from water for periods of a fortnight or 

 more, are not uncommon, yet the cats have soon re- 

 covered ; but it would be absolutely wrong to conclude 

 that the animal did not suffer during its imprisonment, 

 and the height of cruelty to compel it to face such 

 deprivation. The normal habits of animals are a 

 certain guide to their physical requirements, and the 

 fondness of cats for water otherwise than for outside 

 application ought to be matter of common knowledge. 

 From the tiger, who regularly goes off for a ' long 

 drink ' after a kill, and commonly bathes in hot 



