70 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



receiver, which as soon as the cat perceived, she with- 

 drew her paw from the aperture ; but whenever he at- 

 tempted to exhaust the receiver, she applied her paw as 

 before. All the spectators clapped their hands in admi- 

 ration of the wonderful sagacity of the animal, and the 

 lecturer found himself under the necessity of liberating 

 her, and substituting in her place another." But surely 

 there could be no necessity for so cruel an experiment, 

 while the sagacity of the cat might have pleaded for 

 humanity to her race. 



To the instances of sagacity now given, may be added 

 a few others. A gentleman was recently visiting a 

 friend, in whose house were a favourite cat and dog, 

 when one morning there was a tremendous storm of 

 thunder and lightning. Pincher was in the drawing- 

 room, not a little disturbed, when the cat, who lived 

 most amicably with him., walked in, mewing with all 

 her might. She invited him in the most expressive 

 way possible, and one which it was evident he under- 

 stood, to accompany her ; but as he continued to refuse, 

 she left the room. Soon afterwards she mewed so pite- 

 ously, that the observer could not resist the appeal, and 

 found her close to the open door of his sleeping apart- 

 ment. She ran to him, rubbed herself against him, 

 and then crept under the wardrobe which was in the 



