CAT 
ably fliort ; and perhaps many kinds of food are in- 
digeftible in it's ftomach which have not been pre- 
viouAy mafticated. 
The eggs of the Caffowary are of a grey alTi- 
colour, inclining to green, and marked with a num- 
ber of little tubercles of a deep green : the largeft 
meafure about fifteen inches round one v/ay^ and 
twelve the other ; and, confidering their fize, their 
fliells are remarkably thin. 
The fouthern parts of the fartheft Indies feem to 
be the natural climate of this extraordinary bird; 
and it's domain, if we may fo call it, begins where 
that of the oftrich terminates. The latter has never 
been found beyond the Ganges; while the Cafib- 
wary is never feen nearer than the iilands of Banda, 
Sumatra, Java, and the Moluccas: yet even there 
this bird feems not to have multiplied in any con- 
fiderable degree; and is confidered as a curiofity 
in the veiy country of which it is a native. 
CASTAGNOLE. The Italian name of the 
filTi called chromis by the generality of authors, 
and reduced by Artedi to the genus of the fparus : 
he diftinguifhes it by the name of the fparus with 
the fecond ray of each belly-fin extended to a con- 
fiderable length. 
CASTOR. A name fometimes given to the 
beaver, in which the drug cafbor is found. 
CAT. This animal is principally diftinguifhed 
bv it's fharp and formidable clawSj which it pof- 
feffes the faculty of extending or concealing at 
pleafure. Cats lead a ravenous and folitary life ; 
neither uniting, like vegetable feeders, for their mu- 
tual defence; nor, like thofe of the dog kind, for 
their reciprocal fupport. The dog, the wolf, and 
the bear, will fometimes live on farinaceous food; 
but all animals of the Cat kind, fuch as the lion, 
the tiger, the leopard, and the ounce, devour no- 
thing but fiefh; and, except at certain feafons, are 
enemies to each other. 
Thefe creatures are in general fierce, rapacious, 
fubtle, cruel, and utterly incapable of adding to 
the ftock of human happinefs ; it is probable, how- 
ever, that even the fierceft of them might be ren- 
dered domeftic, were the experiment adequate to 
the trouble. Lions have been yoked to the cha- 
riots of conquerors, and tigers taught to tend thofe 
herds which they naturally deftroy. 
All animals of the Cat kind are nearly allied to 
each other, though differing both in fize and co- 
lour; they are alfo equally fierce, artful, and rapa- 
cious; and whoever has feen one, may judge of all. 
In other creatures, many changes are wrought by 
human affiduity: the dog, the hog, or the flieep, 
are altered in theii' natures and habits conforma- 
bly to the rieceiTities or caprices of mankind ; but 
all creatures of this kind are inflexible in their 
forms, and ffrongiy imprelTed with an air of natu- 
ral wildnefs. 
Animals of the Cat kind are remarkable for the 
fliarpnefs and flrength of their claws, which they 
thruft from their fheaths whenever they feize their 
prey. They are alfo equally remarkable for the 
roundnefs of their heads, the fliortnefs of their 
fnouts, and the krge whiflcers which grow on their 
iipper lips. They have each thirty teeth, which 
are very formidable, but much lefs calculated for 
mafticating than tearing their food. With refpecl 
to the dog kind, their greateft ftrength lies in their 
under-jaws; butj in the feline fpecies, in their claws, 
^ which they extend with facility ; and their gripes 
are fo very powerful, that no human efforts can 
difengage them. They are not, hovv^everj endued 
CAT 
with the fwiftnefs of moil other animals ; but o-e- 
nerally owe their fubfiftence rather to catching 
their prey by furprize than fairly hunting it down: 
All of them feize it with a bound, at the fame time 
exprefTing their favage pleaJure by a roar; and their 
firft grafp generally difables the captive from all 
refiilance. With all thefe qualifications for daugh- 
ter, they neverthelefs feem timid and cowardly, 
and feldom make an attack till there is every pro- 
bability of fuccefs ; for when the force againft them 
is fuperior, or even equal to their own, tiiey have 
recourfe to flight. 
Cat, Common. This well-known animal has 
long been domefticated. Indeed, it is the only 
creature of it's kind v/hofe fervices can compen- 
fate for the trouble of bringing it up, and whofe 
fize is too inconfiderable to render it formidablc- 
Though eafily offended, and often capricious in 
it's refentmcnts, it is not endowed with power iuf- 
ficient to capacitate it for much mifchief. Of all 
animals, when young, there is none more fporti\'ie 
than the kitten ; but, as it grows up, it feems to lofc 
this difpofition, and the innate treachery of it's kind 
is then feen to prevail. Being naturally ravenous, 
education teaches it to difguife it's appetites, and 
to watch the favourable moment of plunder ; fup- 
ple, infinuating, and artful, it has the cunning to 
conceal it's intentions till it can effedlually put 
them in execution; and, when opportunity offers, 
it at once feizes on whatever comes in it's way, flies 
off with it, and continues in folitude till it fuppofes 
the offence is forgotten. The Cat has only the 
mere femblance of attachment; and, from it's ti- 
mid approaches and fufpicious looks, may eafily 
be perceived either to dread it's mafter, or difbuft 
his kindnefs: it is affiduous rather for it's own 
pleafure than from a defire of pleafing; and it often 
gains confidence only to abufe it. 
The form of the body, and the temperament of 
this animal, correfpond with it's difpofition ; aft:- 
ive, cleanly, delicate, and voluptuous, it is very- 
fond of eafe, and always makes choice of the fofteft 
bed. Many of it's habits, however, are rather the 
confequences of it's formation than the refuk of any 
perverfenefs in it's difpofition : it is timid and dif- 
truflful, becaufe it's body is weak, and it's fkin ten-' 
der ; and a blow will hurt it infinitely more than a 
dog, the hide of which is tliick, and it's body muf- 
cular. 
The Cat goes with young fifty-fix days, and fel- 
dom brings forth more than five or fix at a time. 
The female ufually hides the place of her retreat 
from tiie male, who often devours the kittens. She 
feeds them 'for fome weeks witli her milk, and with 
whatever fmall animals fhe can catch by furprize; 
and early accuftoms them to rapine. Before they 
are one year old, they are fit to engender ; the fe- 
male feeks the male with cries, and their am.orous 
intercourfe is well known to be attended widi the 
mofl' difgufting noife. They live to about the age 
of ten years, during which period they are extremely 
vivacious, and will endure incredible cruelties be- 
fore they refign their breath. 
Cats no fooner arrive at maturity, than they fliew 
a difpofition for rapine ; diey often look willfully 
towards cages in which birds are confined, fit centi- 
nels at the mouths of moufe-holes, and fbon ac- 
quire from nature every quality requifite to ren- 
der them compleat hunters. Indeed, their dif- 
pofitions are fo incapable of conflraint, that all 
inftruftions are loft on them. The Greek monks 
of the ifle of Cyprus, it is faid, teach Cats to 
hunt 
