i 
ae NATURAL HISTORY. 


ANIMALS of the CAT KIND. 

_ 
ee Se eee 
"Tars clafs is particularly diftinguifhed by their 
fharp claws, which they can extend or conceal, at pleaf- 
ure. ‘ihey lead a folitary, ravenous life ; for moft of 
them, not only feek their food alone, but, excepting 
certain feafons, are enemiesto eachother. “Ihe dog, 
wolf and bear, will fometimes live on vegetables ; but 
the lion, tiger, leopard, and all the cat kind, feed only 
upon fiefh. 
Thefe animals are, in general, fierce, cruel, fubtle 
and rapacious: it is probable, however, that the moft 
ferocious may be rendered domeftic. Lions have 
drawn the chariots of conquerors, and tigers have 
tended thofe herds, which they now deftroy. Allan- 
imals of the cat kind, thabess they differ in fize and 
colour, are allied to each other, in artifice, ferocity 
and rapacity.—‘To fee one, is to know themall. Hu- 
tnan affidauity can effect many changes in other creat- 
ures ; but, in this kind, ali attempts to alter their im- 
Mutable nature, prove abortive. [he dog, cow and — 
fheep, vary according to their country, but the lion 
and tiger are the fame, in whatever clime they are 
found. 
This clafs of animals is remarkable for having round 
heads, fhort nofes, and long whifkerson the upper lip ; 
they have alfo thirty very formidable teeth, which are 
not, however, fo well adapted for chewing their food, 
as for tearing their prey ; this fhows, that nature has 
formed every creature according to the means they 
are obliged to adopt to obtain their fubfiftence. Theie 
creatures, being carnivorous, have teeth particularly 
adapted to the purpofe ; their claws are likewife fharp 
and ftrong in the gr p>, fo as to enable them to hold 
their prey beyond every poflibility of efcape. Not be- 
ing capable of running faft, they are formed witha 
quicknefs of fcent to difcern their prey, and feet fo . 
fof:, that when they walk, they may caufe no found 
which might, prematurely, alarm the animal they are 
going to furprife. : 
