THE CAT. 5%

terriers gave chase till she took refuge in a corner, spitting
and growling. On trying to dislodge her, she flew at Mr
St. John’s face, over the dogs’ heads; but he struck her while
in the air, and she fell among the dogs, who soon despatched
her, even though it has been said that a wild cat has twelve
instead of nine lives. If one of these animals is taken, those
in the neighbourhood are sure to be also secured, as they
will all, after the manner of foxes, assemble round the body
of their relative.”

The Domestic The origin of the domestic cat is difficult to

Cat determine. Cats were numerous in Egypt from
an. early date, and are said to be native to Syria. Accord-
ing to Professor Rolleston the cat was not domesticated any-
where, except in Epypt, before the Christian Era. Few
animals are more familiar to the general reader, and few
therefore, need less description. The “Tabby” is perhaps
the commonest, though black, white, and tortoise-shell varieties
abound. The Angora or Angola cat, the Persian cat, and the
Manx cat, which latter is deficient in the useful and orna-
mental embellishment of a tail, are also well known.

Cat There are many superstitions concerning the
Superstitions. cat, the black variety coming in for the larger
share of popular suspicion. To steal one and bury it alive
was at one time regarded as a specific against cattle desease
in the Irish Highlands, while, according to Captain Brown, it
was the practice for families in Scotland to tie up their cats
on Hallowe’en to prevent their use for equestrian purposes by
witches during the night. “They have always been regarded
as attendants upon witches,” says Mrs. Bowdich, “and witches
themselves have been said to borrow their shapes when on
their mysterious expeditions. I was once told that Lord
Cochrane was accompanied by a favourite black cat in a
cruise through the northern seas. The weather had been
most unpropitious; no day had passed without some untoward
circumstance; and the sailors were not slow in attributing the