i8o THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



" That even the domestic cat is of a mixed nature ; 

 that is to say, a creature which is partly wild, and 

 which must ever remain so, by reason of its destiny 

 and purpose." 



The decision further asserts that no citizen is 

 justified in taking the life of a neighbour's cat, be- 

 cause of any depredations it may have committed ; 

 but the interesting clause is that which frankly 

 acknowledges Pussy's independence of restraint. 

 It is precisely because the French have always ad- 

 mitted this independence, and ungrudgingly granted 

 to the cat her freedom, that they have learned to 

 know her so well, and to cherish her so fondly. 

 Buffon says she is the only brute which accepts the 

 comforts, but rejects the bondage of domesticity; 

 the only one which is tamed without servitude. M. 

 Flourens maintains that she is not really domes- 

 ticated at all, because she neither serves us nor 

 associates with us, save capriciously, and as her own 

 whims dictate. M. Fde, in his delightful book, 

 " Etudes philosophiques sur I'lnstinct et I'lntelli- 

 gence des Animaux," defines domesticity as that 

 change in the habits of a bird or beast which brings 

 it within the scope of our influence, so that it lives 

 contentedly, and without severe restraint, amid 

 whatever surroundings we provide. According to 

 this definition, the cat is truly domestic. No animal 

 enjoys more keenly the luxury it is in our power to 



