THE CAT. 73 



joining them in a thousand tricks and gambols, a large hawk, 

 who was sailing above the barn-yard, in a moment darted ' 

 upon one of the kittens, and would have as quickly borne 

 it off, but for the courageous mother, who, seeing the danger 

 of her offspring, sprang on the common enemy, who, to 

 defend itself, let fall the prize. The battle presently became 

 severe to both parties. The hawk, by the power of his wings, 

 the sharpness of his talons, and the strength of his beak, 

 had for a while the advantage, cruelly lacerating the poor 

 cat, and had actually deprived her of one eye in the con- 

 flict; but puss, no way daunted at the accident, strove, with 

 all her cunning and agility, for her kittens, till she had broken 

 the wing of her adversary. In this state, she got him more 

 within the power of her claws, and availing herself of this 

 advantage, by an instantaneous exertion, she laid the hawk 

 motionless beneath her feet; and, as if exulting in the victory, 

 tore the head off the vanquished tyrant. This accomplished, 

 disregarding the loss of her eye, she ran to the bleeding 

 kitten, licked the wounds made by the hawk's talons in its 

 tender sides, and purred whilst she caressed her liberated 

 offspring." 



The Cat as a "^^^ female cat seems to be in a special sense 

 Poster a bom mother. She is assiduous in the care of 

 Mother, j^^^. ^^^ yoxmg and singularly ready to extend 

 the benefits of motherhood even to alien offspring. Instances 

 are on record in which cats have reared squirrels, dogs, lev- 

 erets, rats, ducks, chickens, and even small birds. These have 

 usually occurred at times when the cats have been deprived 

 of their own yoimg. Mr. T. Foggitt says : " A cat belonging 

 to the Albert Dock Warehouse, Liverpool, gave birth to six 

 kittens. It was deemed necessary to destroy four of them, 

 and they were accordingly drowned. The remaining two 

 were placed, along with their mother, in some loose cotton, 

 collected for the purpose in a box, in one of the warehouse 

 rooms. On removing the box a few mornings after, to give 



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