and selling chickens.

[Illustration: IN THE JARDIN DES PLANTES, ST. PIERRE.]

... Domestic animals are generally able to discern the presence
of their deadly enemy long before a human eye, can perceive it.
If your horse rears and plunges in the darkness, trembles and
sweats, do not try to ride on until you are assured the way is
clear. Or your dog may come running back, whining, shivering:
you will do well to accept his warning. The animals kept about
country residences usually try to fight for their lives; the hen
battles for her chickens; the bull endeavors to gore and stamp
the enemy; the pig gives more successful combat; but the
creature who fears the monster least is the brave cat. Seeing a
snake, she at once carries her kittens to a place of safety, then
boldly advances to the encounter. She will walk to the very
limit of the serpent striking range, and begin to feint,--teasing
him, startling him, trying to draw his blow. How the emerald and
the topazine eyes glow then!--they are flames! A moment more and
the triangular head, hissing from the coil, flashes swift as if
moved by wings. But swifter still the stroke of the armed paw
that dashes the horror aside, flinging it mangled in the dust.
Nevertheless, pussy does not yet dare to spring;--the enemy,
still active, has almost instantly reformed his coil;--but she is
again in front of him, watching,--vertical pupil against vertical
pupil. Again the lashing stroke; again the beautiful
countering;--again the living death is hurled aside; and now the
scaled skin is deeply torn,--one eye socket has ceased to flame.
Once more the stroke of the serpent once more the light, quick,
cutting blow. But the trionocephalus is blind, is stupefied;