584 APPENDIX. 



To the Same. 



WALTON HALL, NEAR WAKEFIELD, 

 September n, 1862. 



My dear Friend, The dislocated thumb gets better. Had I fol- 

 lowed our old bonesetter's instructions, it would have been in writing 

 order long ago ; but we young fellows will always have too much 

 of our own way. Some time ago a young naturalist sent me word, 

 that I was quite wrong in placing the cheetah or hunting leopard in 

 the cat family, as it had not retractile claws, but ought to be con- 

 sidered as an intermediate species betwixt dog and cat. I felt de- 

 termined to crush this heresy at once. So last week when I was at 

 the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park, I got permission to 

 enter into the leopard's den. He was a noble fine male; and I played 

 my cards so well, that he allowed me to examine his forepaws most 

 minutely. I fully satisfied myself that his claws are retractile. There- 

 fore, in his nature, form, and feature, he is a veritable and genuine 

 cat ; and he is not in any way allied to the dog family. Pray excuse 

 this scrawl. My thumb begins to ache. We have very little fruit 

 this season. My sisters are in fair good health, and they most kindly 

 send their love to their invaluable kind friend, Mr Ord. Believe me, 

 my dearest friend, ever yours, most sincerely, 



CHARLES WATERTON. 



To the Same. 



WALTON HALL, NEAR WAKEFIELD, 



April n, 1863. 



My dear Friend, Our winter has been one of extraordinary mild- 

 ness during the day, but of keen frost during the night. No snow 

 has fallen, except a few flakes which did not tarry with us a single 

 hour. The ordinary vegetation is fully one fortnight in advance; 

 and I fear much for our cherry-trees, which are dropping their magni- 

 ficent blossom to the ground. Notwithstanding the mildness, our 

 summer birds do not make their appearance. In the year 1830, I 

 saw here two sand martins on the 29th of March. But this year, not 



