# The Puss; The Octo‑pus explained — How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts

> Chapter companion for How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts by Robert Williams Wood.

## What happens

A humorous warning about the potential confusion between a household cat (Puss) and an octopus, highlighting the domestic chaos that could ensue if one mistakenly acquires an octopus instead of a cat.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wordplay and Homophones

The pun on 'in-felis-ity' (infelicity/felicity) and the playful confusion between 'puss' and 'octopus' exemplify homophonic wordplay.

### Humor and Absurdity

The absurd scenario of an octopus scuttling around the house like a cat underscores the chapter's comedic tone.

## Character check-ins

### The Gnu, the Newt

Not directly present, but the chapter's playful tone and wordplay align with the Gnu and Newt's characteristic humor.

## Key lines

> The Octopus or Cuttle‑fish! I’m sure that none of us would wish To have him scuttle ’round the house, Like Puss, when she espies a mouse

Nobody would want an octopus crawling around the house the way a cat does when it sees a mouse.

_Highlights the humorous contrast between a typical cat behavior and the imagined behavior of an octopus._

> When you secure your house‑hold pet, Be very sure you do not get The Octopus, or there may be Domestic in‑ felis ‑ity.

When choosing a pet, make sure you don't accidentally pick an octopus, or you'll end up with domestic trouble (a pun on 'infelicity' and 'felis' meaning cat).

_The pun 'in-felis-ity' combines Latin for cat ('felis') with 'infelicity' (unhappiness), reinforcing the theme of mistaken identity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se/chapters/the-puss-the-octo-pus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se/chapters