THE DOMESTIC CAT.* 



Tm; child of our engraving has arrayed the monkey in grotesque attire, and she appears fondling the 

 dog with her foot, but her hand is reserved for the cat, as her lap is for the kitten ; and such is the 

 t'e.-liug which has prevailed during periods of time, and to an extent in geographical range, alike 

 indescribable. 



The Cat, found in almost every house, is among the smaller species of the great feline family. It 

 is Le chat of the French ; gatto of the Italians ; gato of the Spanish and Portuguese ; katze of the 

 Germans ; cyperse kat and hugs kat of the Dutch ; katta of the Swedes ; kat of the Danes ; cath and 



HOUSKIIOU) I'KTS. 



geor cath of the Welsh; and of our early naturalist, Ray, felia domestica, sen catus. The Greek word,t 

 like many terms, gives us no information, and appears to be merely a descriptive term. But the names 

 just given are the same as the Latin catus, whence the denominatives catulus and catellus are 

 derived ; ;uid this affords some support to the notion entertained by many, that northern and western 

 Europe received the cat through the Romans. 



The cat has been known, from time immemorial, to the Chinese, Hindoos, and Persians ; it was 

 domiciled among the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Jews, Greeks, and Romans, and may be traced in the 

 mythology of some of the nations. In such veneration was the cat held among the Egyptians, that if 



Felia dumcstk'a. t AiAovpoi, uluros. 



