234 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



antelope, is run down, the chase would often 

 end many miles away from the starting-point, 

 and the weary and gorged pack would lie down 

 to sleep in the nearest place where a tolerable 

 bed could be found. 



There is little doubt that the cat first came 

 into association with man in the same way as 

 did many other of our domestic animals — viz., 

 through primitive hunters carrying helpless young 

 ones to their wigwams as playthings for their 

 children. No savage in his senses would have 

 brought home a full - erown wolf or wild cat 

 with an idea of taming it. Probably, as in the 

 case of the kid, it was the natural playfulness 

 and prettiness of the little creatures which first 

 made them welcome inmates in the primitive 

 household. 



The young wild cat would grow up regarding 

 the habitation of the savage as its home. Guided 

 by its natural instincts or urged by hunger (for 

 we know that our early forefathers were often 

 in want), it would soon become expert in catching 

 small birds and animals, and would assume the 

 independent ro/e which its race has maintained 

 ever since. From what we know of feline habits 

 nowadays, it seems probable that when a primi- 



