xxi LETTERS TO MARCO 139 



power of causing this effect when thinking of, 

 or eager for food, or intent on capturing their 

 prey. Our kitten's eyes shine thus when 

 about to spring at anything in play, and both 

 our kitten's and cat's eyes thus shine when 

 food is presented to them. The effect is not, 

 however, noticed unless the creature is in 

 shade, and then only at certain angles. As 

 a cat generally approaches its prey from 

 under cover and in shade, I believe the two 

 bright red spots of light serve to attract the 

 curiosity of the victim so as to divert its 

 attention for a few fatal moments, or may 

 perhaps hypnotise it in some way, which pro- 

 ceeding has led to the idea of the power of 

 fascination belonging to the cat tribe. 



I saw lately at a school-treat a remarkable 

 instance of this same luminous fire-light 

 phenomenon in the eyes of a little girl : she 

 had rather large gray eyes, which I remarked 

 glowed light as a cat's eyes as -she stood 

 waiting, in rather a shady corner, her turn 

 for the buns and oranges which were being 



