THE HAT. 243 



fine Angola cat, an old raven, and a remarkably large 

 rat with a bell about its neck. All four went to the 

 dish, and, without disturbing each other, fed together ; 

 after which the dog, cat, and rat lay before the fire, 

 while the raven hopped about the room. The landlord, 

 after accounting for the animal's being so familiar, said 

 that the rat was the most useful of the four j for the 

 noise he made had completely freed the house from the 

 rats and mice with which it was before infested. 



Persons accustomed to pass over the Southwark and 

 Waterloo Bridges must have often observed a still more 

 remarkable association. A man, named Austin, has 

 exhibited there alternately, for many years past, a large 

 number of animals, among which are cats, mice, rats, 

 hawks, and sparrows, all living together in the most 

 amicable manner. He states that the cause of this 

 concord is in their being bred together ; and as they are 

 all so well fed, their predatory habits appear to be 

 counteracted. 



As the writer stopped to look at this singular collec- 

 tion, and to converse with the owner a short time since, 

 he observed an instance of feline docility. Austin 

 opened the door, and called a fine large cat, who imme- 

 diately came out, and, at the word of command, took 

 her station on the top of the cage. On another charge 



