DISPOSITIONS OF CATS. 



97 



T t lias boon remarked that instinctive terror will subdue the energies of some creatures, rendering 

 them stupefied and motionless at the sudden approach of danger. Cats are supposed to possess, in some 

 degree, this power of terrifying their prey. An illustration of this notion is thus given by Montaigne : 



" There was at niy house, a little while ago, a cat seen watching a bird upon the top of a tree, 

 and for some time they mutually fixed their eyes, on each other. At Jength the bird let herself fall 

 into the cat's claws, either dazzled or astonished by the force of imagination, or drawn by some attrac- 

 tive power in the cat. This is similar to the story told of the falconer, who, having earnestly fixed his 

 eyes on a kite in the air, laid a wager that he would bring her down by the power of sight alone, and 

 succeeded, as it was said ; for, when I borrow a tale of this kind, I charge it upon the conscience of 

 those from whom I have it." 



The attachment of a cat is partly local and partly personal ; and the local is. often stronger than 

 the personal attachment. These animals do not very readily adapt themselves to a change of houses, 



THE WILD CAT OK FRANCE. 



but the mode of doing so is worthy of notice. Thus a cat will be found to examine every room in 

 the house, from the garret to the cellar ; if a door is shut, he waits till it is opened, ascertains tlie 

 relative size and position of every article of furniture ; and only when his survey is completed does 

 he sit down contented with his new abode. If a new piece of furniture, if even a large book or 

 portfolio, is newly placed in a room which a cat frequents, he walks round it, smells it, takes note, so 

 to speak, of its size and appearance, and then gives himself no further trouble respecting it. 



The Rev. W. Bingley, well known to the present writer, and to many, for his valuable works on 

 natural history, had a friend whose dog and cat had several contentious straggles for the mastery, 

 until the dog so completely prevailed, that the cat was compelled to seek for shelter elsewhere. The 

 dog was the only animal for several succeeding months in the house ; but, at length, he was poisoned 

 by a female servant, whose nocturnal visitors he had betrayed, and was soon after carried out lifelets 

 into the court before the door. The excited cat was now observed, from a neighbouring roof, to watch 

 the motions of several persons who went up to look at him ; and, when all had retired, he descended, 

 and crept cautiously into the court. He soon ventured to approach the dog, and after having patted 

 it frequently with his paw, appeared perfectly sensible that his' late quarrelsome companion could no 

 more insult him, and from that time he quietly returned to his former residence. 



Mr. Whitley, who lived at Old Brompton, near London, had a cat which he called "The Tra- 



VOL. II. 13 



