376 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



on whom to vent a mischievous humour ; and the popular 

 myth that a cat has nine lives, deadens the conscience of 

 the thoughtless boy, and of others besides boys. 



But the cat is not only a useful animal, holding the place 

 in the world of living beings which has been assigned to it 

 by the Creator. It has social qualities of a high order ; and 

 if the dog is rightly characterised as being man's companion 

 on the road and in the field, the cat is equally entitled to be 

 considered as his companion in the house. 



I have no intention to ascribe to the cat qualities which 

 she does not possess. We usually say she, perhaps because 

 the cat is so much associated with females in domestic life. 

 Her softer skin unfits her for many of the rough out-of-door 

 occupations in which the dog is concerned. But her limbs 

 have more flexibility ; and her whole structure is arranged 

 for the kind of life which has been designed for her. The 

 dexterity which she shows in some of those actions, which 

 we call thefts, is very remarkable. The neatness with which 

 she presents her soft paw to a friend, while it is transformed 

 into a powerful weapon of offence to an enemy, cannot be 

 forgotten by any one. The noiselessness of her movements, 

 when she has any purpose to serve, is not excelled by any 

 other animal. 



She must be held much inferior to the dog in intelligence 

 and fidelity. But no one who is acquainted with her char- 

 acter, can ascribe to her only selfishness and cunning. Va- 

 rious as are the colours and markings of her fur, as various 

 are her mental, and what we may call moral qualities also. 

 The colour of the fur varies in different individuals, from 

 pure white to pure black, with intermediate tints. The 

 forms in which these colours are arranged are also very 

 various. The markings are striped, tiger-like, or spotted, 

 leopard-like, or waved, as tortoise-shell.* But besides, some 

 cats are clever, while others are stupid. Some are social, 

 affectionate, grateful ; others are morose, irritable, revenge- 

 ful. Some love to sit or lie near one of the family ; others 

 slink away or rush away, unwilling to be noticed. Some 



* I am informed that tortoise-shell in the male is scarcely ever seen. 



