66 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
jdNIMALS. of the CAT KIND. 
T HIS clafs is particularly diflinguiflied 
by tlieir fharp claws; which they can extend, 
or conceal, at pleafiire. They lead a folita- 
ry, ravenous life; for moft of them not 
only feek their food alone, but, excepting 
certain feafons, are enemies to each other.. 
The dog, wolf, and bear, will fometimes 
live on vegetables ; but the lion, tiger, leo- 
pard, and all of the cat kind, feed only up- 
on flclli. 
Thefe animals are, in general, fierce, cru- 
el, fubtle, and rapacious : it is probable,, 
however, tliat the moft ferocious may be 
rendered domeftic.. Lions have drawn the 
cliariots of conquerors, and tigers have tend- 
ed thole herds, which they now deftroy,. 
All animals of the cat kind, though they dif- 
fer in fiz,e and colour, are allied to each o- 
thcr, in artifice, ferocity, and rapacity. — 
To fee one, is to- know them all. Human 
affiduity can effeft many changes in other 
creatures ; but, in this kind, all attempts to 
altar their immutable nature, prove abortive. 
'The dog, cow, and Iheep, vary according 
to their country, but the lion and tiger 
axe the fame, in whatever clime they are 
found. 
This clafs of animals is renfarkable for 
having round heads, Ihort nofes, and long 
will fliers 
