The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-25
The Loves of souHess Things.

friendships are strong and enduring. lne
Rev. F. 0. Morris, in his Natural HIS
tary Anecdotes" cites remarkable IN
stance. communicated to him by Mr.. T..
Pollock, of Sligo, of terriers rescue
by cat. A bulldog had seized a little
terrier by the throat, and although beaten
and hustled by a crowd ofpeople, would
not let go his hold. Suddenly cat thar
lived in the same house rs the terrier, and
was always fed withit, sprang through
the mob, and fastening on to the dog 3
head and throat, lacerated him so Sc
\ verely that he was forced to let the ter
rier 90 just as it was on the point of be-
ing checked. BY kind treatment it was
ultimately revived. Strange to say, the
opportune deliverer had kittens at the
time. yet, for her poor little friends sake
she risked everything.
Nearly every one can point to singular
instances of close friendships formed be-
tween dogs and cats, and some very re-
markable accounts of the attachments for
other animals have been recorded in this
journal; but certainly no one can tell OF
q more eccentric choice of companion
than that related by Jesse, the natural
list. The anecdote was told him by an
engineer of repute who, during nine
years residence in the United States, had
charge of the construction of some ex-
tensive works, one being the erection of
beacon in a river swamp. During the
progress of the work young alligator
was caught, and. became the property of
the engineer. This strange pet he tanned
thoroughly, so that it followed him about
the house like a dog, even continuing to
scramble up stairs after him. 1t displayed
great affection for its master; but its chief
! friend when taken to New York, was a
cat. The attachment was reciprocated,
and nothing seemed to disturb the
friendship of the curious couple. When
the cat reposed before the fire the ALI
gator would place himself close to puss
and 90 to sleep. When puss CHANGED
to be away the alligator would become
restless and unhappy, but as soon as she
returned regained his spirits.
Mrs Lee, to whom we are indebted for
many suggestive anecdotes of animal
life, tells a still more wonderful tale of a
friendship made by cat with canary
Both these creatures belonged to the mar
rator's mother-in-law, and, as presumed
ly natural enemies, were carefully kept
apart. The bird was only allowed out Of
its cage when grimalkin was shut out;
but one day, to the lady CONSERVATION,
she beheld the cat in the room, and the
canary perched on its back However,
puss seemed friendly, and the bird fear
| less; and so they were left undisturbed
| for the while, and on several other occa-
sions disported together affectionately
One morning, when they were in theil
mistress bed room, the lady was horri-
fled to hear the trusted cat give howl
and Selling the bird in her mouth, jump
on to the bed, where it stood, with brist.
ling hair, glazing eyes and stiffened tail.
At this moment the lady beheld strange
cat creeping into the room. She drove
it away; and as soon as it had disappear.
ed, her own faithful puss deposited hel
little feathered friend upon the bed quite
uninjured, it having only been taken UP
| to preserve it from the claws of the in
truder.
The Rev. F. o. Morris tells us of re
markable friendship that existed on {
farm near Leipsic between a cat and 8
chicken. The four-footed conn ZION Of
the bird was almost constantly with hel
favorite, and guarded it from every dan
ger When the chicken grew up, the cal
still remained on friendly terms with it
and when the poultry were summoned
for feeding puss always attended and
would not permit any of the fowls to APP.
proach till her favorite hen had first sat
listed her appetite, after which they were
allowed to feed unmolested. Bishor
Stanley mentions a case of poor little
kitten whose mother had been killed
taking UP its abode with some fowls and
their young, and becoming so friendly
with them that sometimes it might be
seen playfully catching at their feet as il
about to bite them, while they playfully
pecked at their singular companion in
return. Sometimes the kitten would hide
|. behind bush or a shrub, and then UNI
expectedly springing into the midst Of
them without their displaying any fear,
and would purr and rub against Their
sides. One particular hen, however, was
the Kittens especial favorite, and every
day she would accompany it to its nest,
dllu uONH W W ill lOI ltS IT,
appearance. tr Inns r.
One of the most remarkable instances
of a cats friendship for the. feathered
race is related by the late Mr.. Kingston
in his Stories of Animal Sagacity." In
a loft where puss was rearing her kittens,
pigeon had built her nest IsThe bird
had frequently lost her eggs and young
through the depredations of the rats; and
this, it is surmised, had prompted her to
build her nest close by the cats snug
quarters. Puss offered no objections,
and in little while the two matrons be-
came quite sociable, feeding out of the
same dish, and displaying much affec-
ton for each other. The strangest part
of the matter was that when puss was
absent, the pigeon constituted herself
defender of the kittens, flying at anyone
who attempted to approach them, and
striving with beak, and wings to drive
the intruder away Subsequently, when
neither her own brood nor the kittens
required her further care, she was often
seen tiuttering close to herlfeline friend,
when puSs was making her excursions
abroad. Surely, no more marvellous in
stance Of affection and gratitude over
coming the instincts of nature, is on
record! 20 .t.t - 4d
Mr.. Kingston is also our authority for
fhn Foil 1t A 4. a L.