72 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



whole to the influence of the black cat on board. This came 

 to Lord Cochrane's ears, and knowing that any attempt to 

 reason his men out of so absurd a notion was perfectly use- 

 less, he offered to sacrifice this object of his regard, and have 

 her thrown ovferboard. This, however, far from- creating any 

 satisfaction, only alarmed the men still more. They were 

 sure that the tempests she would then raise would be much 

 worse than any they had yet encountered ; and they implored 

 his lordship to let her remain unmolested. 'There was no 

 help, and they could only hope, if she were not affronted, 

 they might at the end of their time reach England in 

 safety.'" 

 The Oat as " The cat," says the Rev. J. G. Wood, "is fami- 

 a Hunter, ijarly known to us as a persevering mouse-hunter. 

 So strong, indeed, is the passion for hunting in the breast 

 of the cat, that she sometimes disdains mice, 'and such 

 small deer,' and trespasses on warrens or preserves. A large 

 tabby cat, residing at no great distance from White Horse 

 Vale, was accustomed to go out poaching in the preserves 

 of a neighbouring nobleman, and so expert was she at this 

 illegal sport that she constantly returned bearing in her 

 mouth a leveret or a partridge, which she insisted on present- 

 ing to her mistress, who in vain endeavoured to check her 

 marauding propensities. These exploits, however, brought 

 their own punishment; for one day, when in the act of 

 seizing a leveret, she found herself caught in a vermin trap, 

 which deprived her of one of her hind legs. This mis- 

 fortune did not damp her enthusiasm for hunting, as, 

 although the loss of a leg prevented her from chasing hares, 

 and suchlike animals, she would still bring in an occa- 

 sional rat." 



The Cat and " A cat, which had a numerous litter of kittens," 



her Toung. gayg Captain Brown, " one sunny day encouraged 



her little ones to frolic in the vernal beams of noon, about 



the stable door, where she was domiciled. While she was 



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