WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:05.679 Section one of cat tails. This is a LibriVox recording. 2 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:10.000 All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more 3 00:00:10.039 --> 00:00:16.879 information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording 4 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:26.399 by Bologna Times Cats by main read section one. The 5 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:30.039 lion is the king of cats, though there are some 6 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:33.399 who think that the tiger has a better claim to 7 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:37.320 the throne. In point of size and strength, there is 8 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:41.679 not much difference between these two animals. The lion appears 9 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:46.119 larger on account of his shaggy mane, but specimens of 10 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:51.079 the tiger have been taken whose measurement was equal to 11 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:56.840 that of the largest lion. Otherwise, the tiger is decidedly 12 00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:02.479 superior in courage, in address, end in beauty. In fact, 13 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:06.519 the Royal Tiger is one of the most beautiful of animals, 14 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:11.879 while the lion, notwithstanding the great fame he enjoys, is 15 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:17.760 among the very ugliest of brutes. These two powerful creatures 16 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:21.760 often meet in the jungles of India and try their 17 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:26.280 strength in single combat. It is not decided which is 18 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:31.439 superior in prowess, since victory is sometimes on one side 19 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:35.879 and sometimes on the other. No doubt, this depends on 20 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:40.640 the individuals who may engage. For lions are not all alike, 21 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:46.239 nor tigers neither. Both differ in strength and courage, just 22 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:49.519 as men do, and this difference is caused by a 23 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:54.920 variety of circumstances, such as age, size, season of the year, 24 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:01.079 nature of the country and climate, and many like contingencies. 25 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:06.840 Remember that the lion is found both in Asia and 26 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:12.280 Africa and nowhere else. He inhabits the whole of Africa, 27 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:16.240 from the cape to the shores of the Mediterranean, and 28 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:21.240 there are three well marked varieties on that continent. In 29 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:25.520 Asia he is only found in its southern part, that is, 30 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:29.879 in the tropical and subtropical regions, and there are also 31 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:35.240 two or three varieties of the Asiatic lion. With regard 32 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:39.240 to the tiger, he is altogether an Asiatic. There are 33 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:44.400 no tigers in Europe, Africa, and America, of course, we 34 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:48.000 mean in their wild state, and the stories of tiger 35 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:52.400 hunts in Africa and America, frequently to be met with 36 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:57.039 in books and newspapers are the narratives of mere ignorant 37 00:02:57.080 --> 00:03:01.800 travelers who confound the royal tiger. With several species of 38 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:07.280 spotted cats, of which we shall presently speak. We may 39 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:12.680 add that the tiger, although exclusively Asiatic, is not exclusively 40 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:17.240 tropical in his haunts. Tigers are more abundant in the 41 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:20.960 hot jungles of India and some of the larger islands 42 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:25.520 of the Indian Ocean than elsewhere, but they have also 43 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:28.560 been observed far to the north of the Himalayan Chain, 44 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:33.120 on the great steps that extend almost to the confines 45 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:39.080 of Siberia. To continue the monarchical analogy, there are four 46 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.120 cats that may be called the princes of the family. 47 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:47.520 These are the jaguar, the leopard, the panther, and the 48 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:52.960 hunting leopard or cheetah. The first of these is exclusively American, 49 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:58.199 the other three African and Asiatic. They are all for 50 00:03:58.599 --> 00:04:02.840 what are termed spot to cats, that is, having black 51 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:06.840 markings on a buff or yellowish ground. I need not 52 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:11.960 add that they are all beautiful creatures. A superficial observer 53 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:16.000 would easily mistake the one for the other, and in 54 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:22.519 common phrase, they are indifferently termed leopards, panthers, and even tigers. 55 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:27.040 But the naturalists and even the furrier knows that they 56 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:32.360 are four distinct species. I shall endeavor to point out 57 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:35.959 as briefly as possible, some marks that will enable you 58 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:40.800 to distinguish them. In the spots we find a tolerably 59 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:45.399 good criterion of the species. Those upon the body of 60 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:49.199 the jaguar are not spots, but rather what may be 61 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:53.920 termed rosettes. So too, the black markings of the leopard 62 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:59.639 and panther are rosettes, that is, irregular black rings enclosing 63 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:04.040 and open space of the yellow ground. On the contrary, 64 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:08.319 the spots upon the hunting leopard are real spots of 65 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:14.319 a uniform black, and consequently this animal is easily distinguished 66 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:18.759 from the other three. He differs from them also in shape. 67 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:23.680 He is longer in the legs, stands more upright upon them, 68 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.480 and can run more swiftly than any of the cat tribe. 69 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:31.759 In fact, he has a tendency towards the nature and 70 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:35.680 habits of the dog, and might be appropriately termed the 71 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:40.079 cat dog or the dog cat, whichever you please. It 72 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:42.839 is on account of his canine qualities that he is 73 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:47.040 sometimes trained to the chase, hence his specific name of 74 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:52.800 the hunting leopard. He inhabits both Asia and Africa. But 75 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:56.480 how are the jaguar, leopard, and panther to be distinguished 76 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:01.040 from one another? The jaguar easily enough from the other two. 77 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:05.519 His rosettes have a black point in the center, which 78 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:10.879 is wanting in the rings of the panther and leopard. Besides, 79 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:15.759 the jaguar is a larger and more powerful animal. Humboldt 80 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:20.600 and others have observed specimens of the jaguar nearly equal 81 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:24.279 in dimensions to that of the royal tiger himself, and 82 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:28.160 his feats of fierce prowess in the forests of Spanish 83 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:33.199 America are scarcely eclipsed by those of his congener In 84 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:38.199 the jungles of India, human beings are frequently his victims, 85 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:42.519 and settlements have been abandoned on account of the dangerous 86 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:46.680 proximity of the jaguars. His range in America is pretty 87 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:51.600 nearly co terminal with the Spanish territories, including of course 88 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:57.160 Brazil and Guiana, and excluding the country of Patagonia, where 89 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:01.600 a smaller species takes his place. In all these countries 90 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:08.759 he is misnamed tiger tigre, hence the anomalous stories to 91 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:12.680 which we have alluded. We may add that there is 92 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:16.839 a black jaguar in tropical America, just as there is 93 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:21.079 a black panther in Asia. In neither case is it 94 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:25.800 a different species, only a variety as regards color. In 95 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:29.879 all other respects, the black and yellow kinds are alike. 96 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.720 Even on the black ones, the spots are observable in 97 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:37.040 a certain light, being of a deeper hue than the 98 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:42.160 general ground color of the skin. Thus, then it is 99 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:46.319 easy to distinguish a schida from a jaguar, or either 100 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.519 from a leopard or panther. But with regard to these 101 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:54.360 last two, the distinction is more difficult. In fact, so 102 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:57.680 much are they alike that the two species are confounded 103 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:02.920 even by naturalists, and it is yet an undecided point 104 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:07.519 which is the leopard and which is the panther. That 105 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:12.399 there are two distinct species is certain. The London furrier 106 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:15.600 knows that there are two kinds of skins, which he 107 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:21.439 distinguishes mainly by the feel. But the learned zoologist Temink 108 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:26.600 has pointed out a difference in the anatomical structure. Both 109 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.319 animals are natives of Africa, and both were supposed to 110 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:34.720 exist in Asia, but it is doubtful whether that known 111 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:39.000 as the leopard extends beyond the limits of the African continent. 112 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:44.000 The panther is that one which is a little heavier 113 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.480 in the body. More cat like in shape and of 114 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:52.120 a deeper yellow in the ground color. But perhaps the 115 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:56.600 truest distinction is found in the tail, which is longer 116 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.639 in the panther than in the leopard and consists of 117 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:05.080 a great greater number of vertebrae. The panther is a 118 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:09.039 well known animal in India and the Asiatic Islands, and 119 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:14.039 as already stated, there is a dark skinned variety commonly 120 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:18.799 known as the black panther of Java. Taking the cat 121 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:23.120 family according to size, the next that deserves mention is 122 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:26.519 the cougar or puma. This is the panther of the 123 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:31.480 Anglo Americans and the lion leon of the Mexicans and 124 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:36.080 South Americans. His color is a uniform tawny red or 125 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:40.480 calf color, and he is inferior to the jaguar in size, 126 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:46.759 strength and courage. Notwithstanding, he is a formidable animal and 127 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:50.200 has been known to attack and destroy the larger mammalia 128 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:55.000 when wounded or at bay. He will also defend himself 129 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:59.080 against a human enemy, and there have been instances of 130 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:04.840 hunters white and Indian, having succumbed to his strength. His 131 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:09.799 range extends over nearly the whole continent of America, but 132 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:14.039 he more particularly affects the deep shadow of the forests, 133 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:18.399 and like the jaguar, he is a tree climber. He 134 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:21.480 has no claim to the title of lion, except from 135 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:25.080 some resemblance and color, and no doubt it was this 136 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:28.600 that led to his misnomer. Among the early settlers of 137 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:36.240 Spanish America, the aunce comes next. Of all the large cats. 138 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:40.519 This is the least known either to naturalists or hunters. 139 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:45.120 We only know that such species exists, that it is 140 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:50.360 a native of Western Asia, Persia, and perhaps Arabia. That 141 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:53.720 it is an animal nearly as large as a leopard 142 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:58.159 or panther, but of stouter billed and clumsier shape. That 143 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:01.279 it is covered with long, wooly hair, of a pale 144 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:06.080 yellow color, and spotted, not so distinctly as the true leopards, 145 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:10.039 from which it is easily distinguished both by its form 146 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:15.240 and color. The name ounce is from Buffon, but this 147 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:20.279 specific appellation is also applied to the jaguar of America, 148 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:25.080 the jaguar rundi, or a lesser jaguar of Paraguay, and 149 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:30.519 even to the ocelot. The Rima dahan is one of 150 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.000 the most beautiful species of cats. It is of a 151 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:38.080 yellowish ground color, not spotted like the leopard, but marked 152 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:42.840 with broad black bands and patches, in other words, clouded. 153 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.519 It is not so large as either of the species described. 154 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:50.759 It is a tree climber and lies in weight for 155 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:54.240 its prey in the forks of the lower limbs, where 156 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:58.519 it also goes to sleep. From this habit it derives 157 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:04.559 its name glion, which in the Sumatran language signifies the 158 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:10.120 fork of a tree. Not unlike the Riman Dahan, both 159 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:14.559 in size and markings is the Nepal cat, a species 160 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:19.240 as its name imports, found in Nepal in the mountain forests. 161 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:25.200 The servol is a spotted cat, black upon a pale 162 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:30.720 yellowish ground, and considerably larger than the domestic species. It 163 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:33.840 is a native of South Africa, and its skin is 164 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:38.919 prized among the caffirs for making their fur cloaks or carrosses. 165 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.960 The ocelot is about equal in size to the last named, 166 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:47.879 and equally prized for its beautiful skin, which is clouded 167 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.960 with an admixture of spots and stripes upon a ground 168 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:58.000 of yellowish gray. It belongs to Spanish America, more especially Mexico, 169 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.840 and it is said to have been the animal that 170 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:06.039 is represented on the hieroglyphical paintings of the ancient Aztecs. 171 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:12.600 More probably its nobler congener. The jaguar, which is also 172 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.039 found in Mexico, is the animal that held this distinction 173 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:22.799 in the land of Anahuac. In Central and South America, 174 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:27.360 there are a great many species of striped and spotted cats, 175 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:31.679 known generally as tiger cats. The oslat is one of these, 176 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:37.200 but there are also the Pampas cats, the chattai, the jaguar, rundi, 177 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:43.679 the margai, the falsemorga, and many others. Numerous species too 178 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.320 exist in the forests of India, as also in the 179 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:52.440 great tropical islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. 180 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:56.159 There is yet a section of the cat family to 181 00:13:56.200 --> 00:14:00.440 be described. These are the lynxes, or cats with short 182 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:04.960 tails and long ears, the latter erect and at the 183 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:10.120 tips pointing inward or towards each other. Of the lynxes, 184 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:14.039 three species are found in North America. The largest of 185 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:17.639 these is the Canada lynx, which in point of size 186 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:21.320 approaches the smaller species of leopards. The color of this 187 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:26.919 animal is of a reddish gray with spots veried indistinctly marked. 188 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:30.519 Its fur is long and Its skins form one of 189 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:36.200 the principal articles of the Hudson's Bay trade. The Canada 190 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:40.279 lynx is not found so far south as the United States, 191 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:44.320 but its place is there occupied by the Bay lynx, 192 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:49.440 a smaller species and one very similarly marked, except that 193 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:52.720 the rufous tent on the back and sides of the 194 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:57.919 latter is deeper and the spots more pronounced. Still further 195 00:14:58.039 --> 00:15:02.879 south is a third species, only made known to naturalists 196 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:07.399 within the last few years. It inhabits Texas and is 197 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:11.480 hence called the Texan lynx. It is of a darker 198 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:16.039 red than either of the preceding, but in other respects, size, 199 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:20.320 shape and habits it is almost identical with the Bay lynx. 200 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:25.759 Both range to the Pacific. Of the lynxes of the 201 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:29.919 Old World, there is the common or European lynx, which 202 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:35.320 is still found in several European countries, the Caracal, a 203 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:40.080 native of Africa and part of Asia. The booted lynx, 204 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:46.200 also indigenous to both continents, the Shaus belonging to the 205 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:53.200 country of the Marathas, the Catalo a large species of 206 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:58.200 northern Europe, the Nubian lynx of North Africa, and the 207 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:02.960 Southern lynx a native of It may be added that 208 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:06.039 there is scarce one of these species, of which there 209 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:09.799 are not two or more varieties, known only to those 210 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:13.200 who have made a study of the Kingdom of nature. 211 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:33.480 End of section one, Section two of cat tails. This 212 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:39.279 LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Bologna Times. 213 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:51.279 Kittens will Be Kittens by Mabel Humphrey, Section two. The 214 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.240 kittens were playing a sort of follow the leader in 215 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:58.480 and out of their comfortable box of straw, while Missus 216 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:03.080 Tabbycat sat patiently by, only occasionally glancing at them to 217 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:07.400 make sure that all three were safe. Things were very 218 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:11.680 comfortably arranged for the little family of pussies out in 219 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:14.680 the barn, and the only possible danger to the cat 220 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:18.920 babies was the Saint Bernard's dog's drinking dish, which was 221 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:22.039 set down into the barn floor very near the wall 222 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:26.519 and kept filled with water. One of the grooms had 223 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:30.720 arranged it when idle afternoon, more for his own amusement 224 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:34.880 than for any real need, so to place it by, 225 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:41.920 trilled Mother Cat, as Frisker wobbled over toward her greatest 226 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:47.160 dread that dreadful water. Do stay near me, kittens, then 227 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:52.559 you won't tumble in and get drowned. Mule answered, the 228 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:57.240 three kittens and three different keys, don't worry about us, 229 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:02.720 We are all right. Folly. The white nose kitty rose 230 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.400 gaily on her tottery hind legs for an instant and 231 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:10.440 cuffed playfully at her mother's ear. Then started across the 232 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:14.240 barn floor as fast as a fat three weeks old 233 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:21.039 kitten can tumble, followed at once by frisker. Kaliko saw 234 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:24.960 them go, and, anticipating a frolic, at once, made up 235 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.039 her mind to be in it. She lifted her heavy 236 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:32.279 little head and started eagerly toward her stronger sisters. But 237 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:35.960 the progress was slow, for Kaliko was feeble, and the 238 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.720 weak little legs would slide apart, while her tail waved 239 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:44.400 wildly from side to side in the effort to keep 240 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:49.640 her balance. She was a strong minded, small pussy, though 241 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:54.000 weak in body, and she kept steadily on As she 242 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:58.279 drew near her goal. She felt very strong and proud. 243 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:02.079 One or two so prising sit downs and a very 244 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:05.839 hard bump on the pink nose in no way dampened 245 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:10.319 her enthusiasm, but alas the fall that always follows pride, 246 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:15.680 dampened both enthusiasm and her whole wee self for a time. 247 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:21.359 Just as she was becoming quite reckless, almost prancing with 248 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:24.839 feet stepping at least half an inch from the floor, 249 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:29.079 there suddenly yawned, directly in front of the astounded kitten 250 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:34.039 the six inch chasm of the drinking dish. She toppled 251 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:38.440 her tail, gave a single wild twirl, and she splashed 252 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:44.039 heels over head in two inches of water. Missus Tappy, 253 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:49.240 who had been anxiously watching the unsteady promenade, sprang to 254 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:52.359 the basin at once, and leaning down, tried to pull 255 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:56.279 Calico out by the nape of the neck. To the 256 00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:00.519 frightened and shivering kitten that had, upon touching bo at 257 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:03.799 once gained its feet. This would have been quite as 258 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:07.400 unpleasant as the cold water that was now chilling her 259 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:12.960 through and through, so she protested in shrill wails, though 260 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:16.319 she was too heavy for the little mother to lift. Still, 261 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:19.680 Missus Tabby would not give up and tried to claw 262 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:23.039 her kitten out with sudden dabs as she took the 263 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:27.279 fish from the brook. This was more than any kitten 264 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:31.960 could stand, and Kaliko rebelled openly. She spat at her 265 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:35.279 worried mamma. Of course, she did not know any better, 266 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:39.440 for she was only a kiddy. The water might be cold, 267 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:43.079 but at least it did not hurt, while her nose 268 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:47.319 and ears smarted sharply from her mother's well meant scratches. 269 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:52.799 Then mother Cat grew desperate and lost her head completely, 270 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:56.960 circling round and round her baby, now coaxing Kaliko to 271 00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:01.519 jump out, as if I wouldn't if I could, thought 272 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:05.720 the kitten, now crying piteously after what seemed to tabby 273 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:09.799 an age but was really less than five minutes, The groom, 274 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:12.920 who had really been the innocent cause of all this trouble, 275 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:15.680 sauntered in and put an end to it by lifting 276 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:20.960 Kalico tenderly out Gently, he dried the little trembling thing 277 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:24.440 and sat her down in her comfortable box once more, 278 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:28.799 where missus kat At once cuddled down close beside her. 279 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:33.160 Suddenly spying her sisters again, she made a fresh start, 280 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:36.680 only to be stopped by a well directed slap from 281 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:43.240 her mother's swift paw. Mil Mill snapped, missus kat you 282 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:46.559 just sit still for a while. I've had worry enough 283 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:50.000 for one day, and I will not help you out again. 284 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:56.759 I don't want you too, sniffed Kaliko, rubbing her still 285 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:02.200 smarting nose thoughtfully tappy as the kitten made yet another 286 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:06.599 start for her sisters, but wisely let her go, did 287 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:12.440 you Eva, she groaned, But then kittens will be kittens? 288 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:27.960 End of section two Section three of Cat Tails. This 289 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:33.160 LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Bologna Times, 290 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:42.400 Great Panjandrum by Mabel Humphrey. Section three. The cats had 291 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:45.440 just been punished for trying to catch the canary and 292 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:49.920 were cross because of it. On their way downstairs, Topsy, 293 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:56.119 without meaning to, brushed against Pan, properly named Great Pandandrum 294 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:00.680 because of his superior manner, who promptly bat at her 295 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:06.640 as a return compliment. Topsy boxed his ears, then scuttled 296 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:10.839 off to the living room. Pan stalked into the library, and, 297 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:15.240 choosing catlike the one spot he should have kept away from, 298 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:19.039 curled up on a handsome book that was lying open 299 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:22.839 on the table, and forgot his troubles In sleep. For 300 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:27.839 some time, Topsy wandered aimlessly from room to room, then 301 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:32.920 preferring Pan society to no society at all. She did 302 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:36.880 not feel kindly towards human beings since her late whipping. 303 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:40.680 She leapt lightly on to the table and curled up 304 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:44.920 near him. For fully half an hour, she sat idly 305 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:49.519 with half closed eyes while Pan slept on a perfect 306 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:56.200 picture of innocent slumber. Then his paws began to jerk excitedly. 307 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:59.680 His mouth twitched, and the tip of his tail waved 308 00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:04.400 like a pennant and a stiff breeze. Topsy eyed him coldly. 309 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:12.000 Now now now, he gasped. His pause, slipped from the 310 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:16.200 book to the table, and he awoke with a start, 311 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:21.039 pretty face, as you've been making, snap, Topsy, and such talk. 312 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:26.799 Pan seemed surprised. Then he remembered that Topsy had had 313 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:30.640 the worst of the punishment and suddenly felt very forbearing. 314 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:35.000 He'd had a delightful cat nap, and we all know 315 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:42.440 how refreshing those are, I dreamed, he began, then paused 316 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:49.880 impassively for questions. Guess you did sniff, Topsy? You acted 317 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:54.720 like it. Pan looked grieved, but remembered it was such 318 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:58.400 a good nap. He had that when cats have trouble, 319 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:05.079 they are apt to be dreamed. He went on, calmly 320 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:09.119 that I had that yellow squalling thing on the floor, 321 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:11.880 and I was just going to put my paw on 322 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.759 its soft feathers when I awoke. He licked his chops 323 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:22.880 dreamily at the thought, my sympathized Topsy at last interested. 324 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:28.720 Come to think of it, Tops, I'm hungry and er er. 325 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:33.319 Well you know, mistress doesn't always feed us heartily after 326 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:40.400 well after, you know. Topsy bobbed the end of her 327 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:46.400 tail understandingly, and Pan grew confidential. I no wheres a 328 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:51.039 dish of cream, It's down. The rest of the sentence 329 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:53.920 was whispered so low that I really couldn't tell you 330 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:57.880 what it was. But Topsy understood, and the two hurried 331 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:04.640 away as noiselessly and gracefully yes, and as dignifiedly as 332 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:09.599 only cats can hurry The desired cream they found on 333 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:13.480 a high shelf in the shed. They were supposed never 334 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:16.559 to enter this place, so Cook had thought it a 335 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:20.519 safe spot in which to set the cream. A strong 336 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:24.599 jump was needed to reach the shelf, but after several attempts, 337 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:29.440 they managed it and lapped, lapped, lapped to their full content. 338 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:35.720 As they sat blissfully purring after this unusual treat, they 339 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:40.599 heard a plaintive mule from the ground close by and 340 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:44.680 peering down saw a strange cat that had evidently entered 341 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:48.640 through the open window as they had done. He looked 342 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:52.599 hungry and wistful, while they had just had a delicious 343 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:59.400 meal and were correspondingly pleasant. Maw, come on up, it's good, 344 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:05.559 called Pan. Possibly hunger made the leap easier for this 345 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:09.440 newcomer than for the well fed cats. Possibly he was 346 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:13.079 more agile than they, for with one spring he landed 347 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:16.880 by the saucer, and, dipping his head eagerly lapped long 348 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:21.599 and fast before he once raised his eyes. When he finished, 349 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:24.519 the pink tongue was run out over his lips and 350 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:29.119 whiskers so that no delicious drop should escape, and he 351 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:34.720 heaved a satisfied sigh. Do you ah always have such dinners? 352 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:40.160 As this? Asked? He Pan turned his head away and 353 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:43.799 pretended to be interested in a black ant that was 354 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:47.640 crawling rapidly up the wall below him. He was a 355 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:52.240 truthful pussy and preferred to change the subject. The stranger 356 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:57.079 was comfortable and sat lazily waiting for the answer. At 357 00:27:57.079 --> 00:28:00.640 that moment, Cook went for the cream, and, seeing the cats, 358 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:06.559 started angrily forward, showing and scatting with great vigor. When 359 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:10.319 after a wild exit. The cats at last seated themselves 360 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:13.640 up on a high fence. They paused a moment to 361 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:19.000 get their breath again. Then the stranger smiled. He actually grinned. 362 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:23.759 I should judge you don't always have such a dinner 363 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:29.400 as that, He spoke pleasantly, But pan looked sheepish by whiskers. 364 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:33.559 He muttered, his mind's eyes, still seeing cook's vulgar flapping 365 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:39.359 apron strings. I should think not. Thanks, just the same, more, 366 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.400 said the visitor, jumping down. Don't mention it, politely answered 367 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:57.720 the host and hostess. Come again. End of section three, 368 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:03.240 Section four of Cat Tales. This LibriVox recording is in 369 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:09.160 the public domain recording by Ballogna Times. The Kitten who 370 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:17.359 Lost Herself by Clara Dillingham Pearson, Section four. I think, 371 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:20.720 said the blind horse that something is the matter with 372 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:24.680 my ears. He and the dappled gray had been doing 373 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:27.640 field work all the morning and were now eating a 374 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:31.359 hearty dinner in their stalls. They were the only people 375 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:35.440 on the first floor the barn. Even the stray doves 376 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:38.359 who had wandered in the open door were out in 377 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:41.640 the sunshine once more. Once in a while, the whir 378 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:45.680 of wings told that some swallow darted through the window 379 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:48.880 into the loft above and flew to her nest under 380 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:52.559 the roof. There was a deep and rustful quiet in 381 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:56.119 the sun warmed air, and yet the blind horse had 382 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:59.319 seemed to be listening to something which the other did 383 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:05.440 not hear. The dappled gray stopped eating at once. Your ears, 384 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:09.440 said he what is wrong with them? I thought your 385 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:15.000 hearing was very good. It always has been, was the answer, 386 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:19.119 and finer than ever since I lost my sight. You 387 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:23.119 know it is always so with us blind people. We 388 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:26.759 learned to hear better than we could before losing our sight. 389 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:30.319 But ever since we came in from the field, I 390 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:33.720 have had a queer sound in my ears, and I 391 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:38.240 think there is something the matter with them. The dappled 392 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:42.880 gray stopped eating and stood perfectly still to listen. He 393 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:46.160 did not even switch his tail, although at that minute 394 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:50.119 there were three flies on his left side and one 395 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:52.759 on his neck. He was trying as hard as he 396 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:56.279 could to hear the queer sound, also, for if he did, 397 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:59.720 it would prove that the noise was real and that 398 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:02.680 the blind horse's hearing was all right. He could not 399 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:08.400 hear a thing. What is it like? He asked, like 400 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:12.039 the loud purring of a cat, was the answer. But 401 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:15.359