CAT. 
SSI 
Its fur also is usually sleek and glossy ; and, for this 
reason, the hair is easily electrified,, sending forth 
shining* sparks, if rubbed in the dark.” 
The wild cat breeds with the tame; and, 
therefore, the latter may be considered only as a 
variety of the former ; however, they differ in some 
particulars ; the cat, in its savage state., is some- 
what larger than the house-cat ; and its fur being 
longer, gives it a greater appearance than it really 
has ; its head is bigger, and face flatter ; the 
teeth and claws much more formidable ; its mu s- 
cles very strong, as being formed for rapine ; the 
tail is of a moderate length, but very thick and 
flat, marked with alternate bars of black and 
white, the end always black * the hips, and hind 
part of the lower joints of the leg, arc always 
black; the fur is very soft and fine; the general 
colour of these animals, in England, is a yellowish, 
white, mixed with a deep gcey. These colours, 
though they appear at first sight confusedly blend - 
ed together, yet, on a close inspection, will be 
found to be disposed like the streaks on the skin of 
the tiger, pointing from the back downwards, 
rising from a black list, that runs from the head, 
along the middle of the back, to the tail. This 
animal is found in our larger woods ; and is the most 
destructive of the carnivorous kinds in this king- 
dom. It inhabits the most mountainous and woody 
parts of these islands, living mostly in trees, and 
feeding only by night. It often happens, that the 
females of the tame kind go into the woods to 
seek mates among the wild ones. It should seem, 
that these, however, are not original inhabitants 
of this kingdom, but were introduced, first in a 
domestic state, and afterwards became wild in the 
woods, by ill usage or neglect. Certain it is, 
the cat was an animal much higher in esteem 
among our ancestors than it is at present. By the 
