490 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



of the character of the Marten than the Cat, as the snout 

 is elongated, and the claws are not retractile ; but they are 

 perfectly domesticated, and the fur is very fine. The teeth 

 are not described. The account must, however, be taken 

 with caution ; as, although the animals in question partake 

 as much or more of the character of the Marten than of the 

 Cat, the original intercourse which produced them is merely 

 supposititious. May not this be the Pensa Cat mentioned 

 in Pallas's Travels ? 



The fur of the Cat, when dry, will yield electric sparks 

 by rubbing ; and if the animal be placed on an electrical 

 stool with glass legs, and rubbed for a short time in contact 

 with the wire from a coated jar, the jar will be effectually 

 charged with electric matter. 



Cats dislike being wetted, and are averse to many scents ; 

 but they are passionately fond of the smell of the valerian 

 root. 



Such as have lost their young have been known to trans- 

 fer their maternal affection to Leverets, young Squirrels, 

 and even Rats. These and similar facts, equally common 

 and notorious, as the maternal affection of birds for the 

 young of a different genus which they may have hatched, 

 evince a special interposition of Providence for the propa- 

 gation of animals, and show that what we call instinct is 

 totally different from any thing like reason ; and is in fact 

 an impulse acting on animals independent of volition, for 

 the most important certainly of all purposes to them, their 

 preservation. 



After the Cats generally, may be placed the Lynxes, or 

 Cats with ears terminated with a pencil of hairs ; their size 

 is moderate, and their tail generally short. 



The Caracal, Siagous, or Lynx of Barbary and the Levant, 

 (Felis Caracal, L.,) is distinguished by its uniform vinous 

 red colour; by its ears, black without, and white within; 



