Quadrupeds. 2053 



Anecdote of a Cat. — A short time ago, whilst calling at the house of a friend, I 

 witnessed a curious act on the part of a cat belonging to the house. In front of the 

 house was a little garden, entered by a glass door, which was furnished with a knocker 

 about two feet from the ground ; and into this garden puss was accustomed to go for 

 the purpose of enjoying the sunshine. When she wished to enter the house, she 

 reared herself on her hind legs, and, raising the knocker, gave one loud rap ; if that 

 was unheeded she rapped thrice. How she raised the knocker I was not able to see ; 

 but probably resting on the door with one paw, she lifted the knocker with the other. 

 This, though a trifling incident, contributes to show that animals are sometimes pos- 

 sessed of something analogous to a reasoning power. — H. Barclay ; Leyton, Essex, 

 February 9, 1848. 



A Church-going Turnspit. — " In the West of England, not far from Bath, there 

 lived, towards the close of the last century, a worthy clergyman, who was as benevolent 

 as he was learned. There were turnspits in those days — a most intelligent set they 

 were, and Toby, who was an especial favourite, was a model of the breed, with legs 

 worthy of the Gow Chrom himself, upon which he waddled after his master every- 

 where, sometimes not a little to his annoyance ; but Toby was a worthy, and he could 

 not find it in his heart to snub him. Things, however, came at last to such a pass, 

 that Toby contrived somehow or other to find his way to the reading-desk on a Sun- 

 day, and when the door was opened, he would whip in, well knowing that his reverend 

 patron was too kind and too decorous to whip him out. Now, though it has been said 

 that 



1 He's a good dog that goes to church,' 



the examplary Dr. B., who thought he had traced a smile upon the countenance of 

 some of his parishioners on these occasions, felt the impropriety of the proceeding : so 

 Toby was locked up in the stable on Sunday morning ; all to no purpose, however, for 

 he scrambled through the shut window, glass, lead and all, and trotted up the aisle 

 after his annoyed master as usual. Matters were now getting serious ; so as soon as 

 he had on the Saturday caused the beef to revolve to a turn which was to be served 

 cold for the Sunday dinner — for the good man chose that all around him should find 

 the Sabbath a day of rest — Toby was taken out of the wheel, and his dinner was given 

 to him ; but instead of being allowed to go at large to take his evening walk after it, 

 Molly, to make sure of him, took him up by the neck, and, putting him into the wood 

 hole, where window there was none, drew the bolt, and left him therein. Toby re- 

 venged himself by drying up the souls of the whole family with his inordinate ex- 

 postulatory yells during the whole of the remnant of Saturday and the greater part of 

 Sunday. However, there was no Toby dogging the heels of the surpliced minister, 

 and it was concluded that the sufferings that the doggie and the family had under- 

 gone would have their effect. Well, the week wore on, Toby as amiable and as useful 

 as ever, without a particle of sullenness about him — into the wheel went he right 

 cheerfully, and made it turn more merrily than ever ; in short, parlour, kitchen and 

 all were loud in his praise. However, as it drew towards twelve o'clock on the Satur- 

 day, Toby was missed. Poor Molly, the cook, was at her wit's end. 



* Where's that vexatious turnspit gone ? ' 



was the question, and nobody could answer it. The boy who cleaned the knives was 



despatched to a distant barn, where Toby was occasionally wont to recreate himself 



after his culinary labours, by hunting rats. No — no Toby. The sturdy thrashers, 



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