THE CAT TO-DAY 259 



own capable shoulders, teaching them assiduously 

 to climb trees, to scale walls, and to spring upon 

 birds. M. Dupont de Nemours gives a charming 

 instance of grandmotherly care and devotion on the 

 part of a cat whose young daughter was very ill 

 after the birth of her first kittens. She had a 

 little family of her own at the same time ; but 

 she gathered her grandchildren into her overflow- 

 ing basket, nursed them, and watched over them 

 attentively, until their parent was able to assume 

 her maternal duties. 



"A kitten," says M. Champfleury, "is the de- 

 light of a household. All day long a comedy is 

 played by this incomparable actor." As for a litter 

 of kittens, a nid de chatons, as the French prettily 

 phrase it, no misanthrope could resist their seduc- 

 tions. The spirit of mischief, the spirit of frolic, 

 the spirit of drollery animate these small mummers, 

 and prompt them to their parts. Their curiosity 

 is insatiable. "Everything that moves," observes 

 Moncriff, "serves to amuse them. They believe 

 that all nature is occupied with their diversion." 

 The most intrepid of explorers, they make strange 

 voyages of discovery in dark closets, underneath 

 beds and bureaus, up curtains and table legs, trem- 

 bling with excitement, and with a terror which is 

 half pretence. Their agility is wonderful, yet no 

 less ridiculous than their hardihood. The school- 



