must be dragons...
A ninth-century Irish monk penned several verses comparing the hunting prowess of his white cat (Pangur Bán) to his own quest for perfect words. The poem begins: "I and Pangur Bán, my cat 'Tis a like task we are at; Hunting mice is his delight Hunting words I sit all night." The complete poem, both in Gaelic and Robin Flower's English translation, may be found at http://www.sky-net.org.uk/canals/pangurban/name/ (Pangur Bán, the dragon-mice, and knotwork/braid/spiral ornaments inspired by the Book of Kells, the Book of Durrow, the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Gandersheim Casket, Shrine of St. Patrick's bell, and other Celtic wirework.)