HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



Illllllllllliii!! 



THE DOMESTIC CAT. 



DIFFERS from the Wild Cat, in being somewhat 

 less; and instead of being uniformly the same, is 

 distinguished by a great variety of shades and 

 colouring. 



To describe an animal so well known, might 

 seem a superfluous task: we shall only, therefore, 

 select such of its peculiarities as are least obvious, 

 and may have escaped the notice of inattentive ob- 

 servers. 



It is generally remarked, that Cats can see in the 

 dark; but though this is not absolutely the case, 

 yet it is certain that they can see with much less 

 light than most other animals, owing to the pecu- 

 liar structure of their eyes, the pupils of which are 

 capable of being contracted or dilated in proportion 

 to the degree of light by which they are affected. 

 The pupil of the Cat, during the day, is perpetually 

 contracted; and it is with difficulty that it can see 



