ANECDOTES ABOUT CATS 269 



and rushed helter-skelter into a large cage, the door of 

 which stood open the owner of the shop closed the 

 cage, which had wooden sides with wires front and 

 back. 



" It was most interesting to watch the motherly kind- 

 ness of the cat towards her unusual playfellows. She 

 fondled them one after the other ; licked them carefully 

 all over with her rough tongue, and turned complete 

 somersaults over their heads. They too were full of 

 antics and did much the same with her ; never have we 

 seen a prettier sight. 



" Then they would all lie down tired together and curl 

 themselves up, either on the cat's back or beneath her 

 fore paws, which she raised to receive them. This cat, 

 be it observed, is an excellent mouser, which makes the 

 above-mentioned friendship all the more surprising, and 

 these gambols are of daily occurrence. 



" The mother of the young cat referred to had just 

 kittened when we were there, and we advised her owner 

 to associate them with the squirrels from the first ; 

 running about together in a house in the country they 

 would afford endless amusement ; as for their tricks and 

 gambols, they would be indescribable." 



My friend, Mr W. Isbell, of Clifton, who is not only 

 a keen lover of all kinds of animals but is skilful in 

 portraying their features in water-colours and oils, has 

 sent me the following amongst other of his experiences : 



" When we were living at Lydney, in Gloucestershire, 

 we had a favourite female cat with one kitten, and as the 

 latter was found dead with evidently the marks of teeth 



