THE GREAT DOG-SUPERSTITION 289 
barred zebra-like, or spotted, or with the colours 
disposed in strange patterns, beautifully harmonious. 
As in the lemurs, and surpassing them, here are 
brilliant luminous eyes and great strength of 
sinew; but these are not of peace: the serpent- 
like silence of the movements and fateful stillness 
of the lithe form, and the round watchful orbs that 
seem like the two fiery gems set in a carved figure 
of rich stone—these betray the deadly purpose. 
Yet their hearts may also be conquered with 
kindness. The domestic cat is a proof of it; she 
is found in most houses, and whether we make a 
pet of her or not, long familiarity has given her a 
place in our affections. But when we go from home 
and visit regions infinitely richer in life than our 
own, it surprises and offends us to meet with the 
same cat still; for it looks as if man had failed, in 
the midst of so much variety, to find anything 
better or equally good. Nature abhors monotony; 
why should we force it on her to our own dis- 
advantage? 
Here then we have a few mammalian forms 
gathered at random from several widely separated 
families, each as it were the final and highest effort 
of Nature in one particular direction—“ the bright 
consummate flower ” in a group, the other members 
of which seem by comparison coarse and unfinished. 
We boast to be lovers of the beautiful, and it is 
here in its highest form. Birds may be said to 
have a greater beauty, but it is different in kind; 
and they are winged and far from us. They are 
