308 ^HE ANGORA CAT. 



which were very adequate to the purpose *. The 

 patience, craft, vigilance, utility, and cleanliness, of 

 the Cat, have also obtained for it the highest de- 

 gree of protection in the Eastern mythology ; so far 

 indeed, that it is esteemed the noblest species of its 

 tribe -f". 



The following curious fact in the natural history 

 of the Cat, is related by Dr. Anderson ; in his en- 

 tertaining work, the Recreations in Agriculture :— 

 A Cat belonging to Dr. Coventry, the ingenious 

 Professor of Agriculture in Edinburgh, which had 

 no blemish at its birth, lost its tail by accident 

 when it was young. It had many litters of kittens ; 

 and in every one of these there was one or more 

 that wanted the tail, either w holly or in part. 



" A Cat (says Browne) is a very dainty dish 

 among the Negroes J." 



THE ANGOEA CAT »5*. 



The Angora Cat is a variety of the domestic 

 species. When M. Sonnini was in Egypt, he had 

 one of them in his possession for a long time. It 

 was entirely covered with long silky hairs : Its tail 

 formed a magnificent plume ; which the animal 

 elevated, at pleasure, over its body. Not one spot, 

 nor a single dark shade, tarnished the dazzling 



* Baumgarteii's Travels. Churcljill's Coll. i. 477- 

 t D'Obsonville, 80. J Histon' of Jamaica, 485. 



§ Synonyms. — y Felis Angorensis. Linit. — Chat d' Angora. Bnffoii' 

 Anjiora Cat. Peim. 



