Evening star., 1933-12-08
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES +. TRAcEWELL.

solely on the chic. occupation of liyine
things-acquiring something to eat.
It is the strong Sdor of food, no doubt
OF 1t, which makes him brave the equally
strong odor Of Felis domesticus, whose
scent must be overpowering to mouse
no matter how much care Tom takes tl
wash his face and paws after every
meal.
Ths common belief Is that the cal
washes his face In order to remove an
odor from itself, SO that mice will not
be able to catch its scent. One may be-
| ieye that this rather understates the
case.
1t Is nearer to the truth to say that
the cat washes its face in order simply
! 10 remove food odors, being an orderly
creature and not liking fragrances out
Of place.
Friends Of the house cat will believe
that Puss also INDUCES in her daily
warnings so that she will disappoint
the micel
BY removing food smells from hel
mouth and paws she deprives any lurk.
ing mouse Of the felicity Of food smell
which. In the purely animal kingdom. is
altogether more powerful than among
human beings.
The house cat hates the mouse, Just
as the mouse fears the cat. Neither
would do anything, one may feel con-
vInced; which would bring pleasure tc
the other.
The man with the broom wouldn't dc
a thing to help the rat" as he insists
on calling 1t, until forced by the evi.
dence OF the trap to call 1t properly
Ihen he stands vaguely ashamed oi
| himself.
Householders at large seldom are
willing to give the cat the credit which
!. deserves. 1t Is probable that without
the help Of this natural enemy of the
rodent family the urban homes of hui
manity would be overrIn by mice and
rats to an extent now utterly unknown
Ihe cat hates the rat with a lOathine
beyond mankind's even, based solely on
the scent or the creature. That Is why
IL Is SO natural for cats to chase squir.
| reiS and why no one should be offended
| with them for It. They have no way OF
appreciatilg the picturesque features OF
these super rodents.
The next time you see q squirrel f1irt-
Ing around tree trunk, try to picture
the animal without its fine coat, and
especially without its great bushy tail
II your imagination Is good, you will
have no difficulty whatever in seeing 9
very rat-like creature. Cats enjoy an.
other perfect hatred-that Is for the
snake. Since there Is a relationship
between snakes and birds. 1t Is not tl
be wondered at that the house cat
which operates by instinct, draws nc
line between them. It has no way oi
dlnerentiating between a rat and SOUR
rel or between a snake and a bird. Mar
is willing for the cat to kill the rat
he even praises it for the deed-but be-
comes very angry at PuSs when she
happens to bear home a squirrel. II
old Tom kills snake. he is patted or
the head. How Is he to blame II he
kills bird, which smells very snake
like to him?
The householder is sitting in his IA.
yorite easy chair by the dining room
window reading a new book. As he
reads he sees, out of the corner Of his
eye, a slight shadow over by the base.
tosrd. He goes right ahead reading
scarcely being conscious of the shadow
Soon. however, he stops and looks
Could 1t be mouse?
There Is nothing there. It was only
shadow, he thinks. He goes back tc
his book. Soon the gray shadow creep.
back across the room on little feet
which make no sound. 1t Is old Bill
Mouse out for an evening stroll.