100 



CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



poee of demonstrating that very certain fact, that life cannot be supported without air. The lecturer 

 had already made several strokes with the piston, in order to exhaust the receiver, when the animal, 

 win. began to feel herself very uncomfortable in the rarefied atmosphere, was fortunate enough to 

 discover the source whence Ifcr uneasiness proceeded. She placed her paw on the hole through which 

 the air escaped, and thus prevented any more from passing out of the receiver. All the exertions of 

 the philosopher wore now unavailing ; in vain he drew the piston the cat's paw effectually prevented 

 its operation. II. 'ping to ell'ect his purpose, he let air again into the receiver, which, as soon as the cat 

 perceived, she withdrew her paw from the aperture ; but whenever he attempted to exhaust the 

 receiver, she applied her paw as before. All the spectators clapped their hands in admiration of the 

 wonderful sagacity of the animal, and the lecturer found himself under the necessity of liberating her, 

 ami substituting in her place another, that possessed less penetration, and enabled him to exhibit the 

 cruel experiment." 



A cat, mentioned by Jesse, was much petted by her mistress, and one day was struck by a servant. 



She resented the injury so much, that she re- 

 fused to eat anything given her by him. Day 

 after day he handed her dinner to her, but she 

 only sat in sulky indignation, though she 

 eagerly ate the food as soon as it was offered 

 her by another person. Her resentment con- 

 tinued against him for upwards of six weeks. 



The same cat, having been offended by the 

 housemaid, watched th.ree days, until she found 

 a favourable opportunity for retaliation. The 

 servant was on her knees, washing the passage, 

 when the cat flew at her, and left indubitable 

 marks on her arms that grimalkin was not to 

 be ill treated with impunity. And yet, strange 

 to say, her attachment was as strong as her 

 resentment, and she took a very singular way 

 of showing it. All the dainty mice she could 

 catch, and all the tit-bits she could steal from 

 the pantry, she invariably took to her mistress, 

 and laid them at her feet. She has been known 

 to proceed to her door in the middle of the 

 night, and mew till it was opened, when she 

 would present her prey to her mistress, who, it 

 may be supposed, would rather not have been 

 disturbed ; but it was only after the cat had 

 done this that she was qviiet and contented. 

 It was the custom of the late Rev. Dr. Gabriel, formerly Rector of Barkham, Berkshire, when bait- 

 ing his horse on a journey, to inquire who was the clergyman of the village, and to pass half an hour 



with him. Happening on an occasion of this kind to be told that a Mr. was the clergyman, he 



said, "I shall go and see him." "Sir," replied the ostler, "our parson is a very particular gentleman 

 and never admits a visitor." " Oh ! " said Dr. Gabriel, " he was a very intimate acquaintance of mine 

 at college ; we lived on the same staircase, and were continually in each other's rooms. I am sure he 

 will see me." 



Accordingly, he proceeded to the rectory, was cordially received by his old friend, and invited to 

 dinner. A Htroll in the garden was proposed, and, on Dr. Gabriel's return to the parlour, he observed 

 plates laid fur ;i party of three. After conjecturing who was to be the third at table, the dinner was 

 1 up, and, svli.-n the doctor and his friend sat down, the cat jumped up from the hearth-rug, and 

 took possession of the third chair. The rector helped his guest first, when instantly puss sprang at his 

 face, ami in;i<l<' on it :i most furious attack. It appeared now, that as the rector and the cat had long 

 liv "' .il..i,.-. ;i |,l;,t, ] 1!l( i iihvuys been placed on the table for her, and that, as she had been 



THE TIOKK CAT OK SrMATRA. 



