THE CAT. 65 



night. It consists of various kinds of birds and quad- 

 rupeds, among which are hares and rabbits. Wild cats 

 are caught or destroyed chiefly to prevent the ravages 

 they commit. 



THE DOMESTIC CAT. 



This animal is a variety of the wild species, and par- 

 takes, in some degree, of its native ferocity. In ancient 

 Egypt, the cat was held in sacred veneration. It was 

 considered a capital crime to kill one wilfully ; and to 

 kill one accidentally, exposed the individual to severe 

 punishment. A similar feeling has prevailed in other 

 countries. It is stated by Herodotus, the Greek histo- 

 rian, that " when a cat died, it was embalmed, and in- 

 terred with honour; and that the inhabitants of the 

 house shaved their eyebrows in token of sorrow." In 

 Turkey, cats are treated with a like regard. 



It appears from an ancient law of one of the Welsh 

 princes, that in his time a cat was a rare and valuable 

 animal. A penny for a kitling before it could see, 

 which was doubled from that time till it caught a mouse, 

 and quadrupled for a mouser, was a very high price, 



P , 



