HABITS OF THE POLECAT. 
73 
terms, but Puss’s size and strength kept him at a respectful distance; once, and 
once only, did he approach her, and then a blow from her (or his rather, for it 
was a male Cat) paw sent him sprawling a couple of feet; and even when he 
arrived at maturity, he remembered this defeat, and never again attacked the 
Cat, who being in his turn unwilling to attack “ Jemmy,” the two animals lived 
in a very peaceable manner together; and it was amusing to observe their mutual 
caution and respect for each other. For instance, if (one going out of a room and 
the other coming in) they chanced to meet in a door-way, “Jemmy” would pause, 
eye Puss, and ha — ha — ah, pthah - ah. Puss would reply, drawing back his 
ears, retreating, the hair on his tail distended, and his whiskers and nostrils 
moving in a manner indicative of great anxiety. Puss would then quietly draw 
back to one side, and the other would limp past, for the injury he received at the 
time of his capture left him lame for life. I am not disposed to admit, however, 
that “Jemmy” was to blame in not being friends with Puss, for on his first 
approach to him, as you will perceive, at their first meeting, the Cat “ floored” him 
with his ready paw, before he had time to discover whether the strangers advances 
were friendly or the contrary. Now, “Jemmy” was by no means unsocial in 
his manners; for, excepting his natural prey, such as Rats and the like, he seldom 
(at least after he became fully tame) meddled with any thing which did not 
meddle with him; his disposition was most affectionate to human beings, 
especially to myself and others whom he knew. With such persons he would be 
extremely fond of associating, and would testify his affection by licking the face 
or fingers: this latter mark of love, however, was bestowed on no one but 
myself. If “ Jemmy” were at large in the parlour, or other room, and I quitted 
it, as soon as he became aware of my absence, he would search the room carefully 
for me, smelling and examining every other person in it, and when he discovered 
that such search was in vain, he would attempt to open the door with his claws 
and teeth, in order to seek me elsewhere. If I chirped for him and patted my 
knee while he was in the room with me, he would instantly jump upon my lap 
and settle himself to sleep there. He was once nearly killed by a Coati-mondi. 
This animal had been given me by Captain Thomas Brown, author of several 
able and interesting works on Natural History, and a kind promoter and assistant 
of my zoological studies. It was called “Jacob,” was very tame, but passionate: 
it appeared to have imbibed a strong antipathy to every animal smaller than 
itself: the Cats were forced to fly the house ; it killed a Ferret for me, and nearly 
destroyed poor “Jemmy.” This Coati-i^iondi had a strange fondness for getting 
under the kitchen-grate and rummaging among the ashes ; and I discovered that 
his object was to search out any eggshells that might have been thrown there, 
for he was, if possible, still fonder of eggs than even “ Jemmy.” He was thus 
engaged one day, and his long tail was waving backwards and forwards behind 
VOL. v.— no. xxxv. 
K 
