CATS. 
VAGRANT CATS AND DOGS. 
It is no uncommon remark, that it has rained cats and 
dogs. But this happens, however, only occasionally about 
Christmas time, and then the shower has generally been 
confined to the stage during the performance of the 
pantomimes. Nevertheless, we have living amongst us 
a sufficient number of these useful domestic pets to pro- 
duce a heavy storm of rage and fury by the terrible 
amount of mischief and danger met with by their in- 
creasing number, and it becomes us to draw attention to 
so serious a subject, in order to lessen the nuisance. In 
the first place, let us have some means of knowing who 
are the rightful owners of the animals, and we may then 
be able to get rid in a merciful way of the poor half- 
starved, un-owned, discarded creatures that infest the 
streets, and endanger our lives by their miserable, diseased, 
and vicious condition. 
An increase in the amount charged as a tax on dogs 
would most likely cause many persons who keep dogs to 
conceal them, and endeavour to avoid payment, whereas 
the small amount of 5s. is not worth the risk or trouble, 
and would be found to produce an equal if not a larger 
revenue, as many would perhaps pay for two if they had 
them, rather than risk paying I Os. for one and smuggling 
