Concerning Cats 



teasing and frightening the cats. About a week 

 before my return, the English cat had kittens, which 

 she carefully concealed behind book-shelves in the 

 library. On the morning of my return I saw the cat 

 and patted her as usual, and then left the house for 

 about an hour. On returning, I found that the kit- 

 tens were located in the corner of my dressing-room, 

 where previous broods had been deposited and 

 nursed. On questioning the servant as to how they 

 came there, he at once replied, 'Sir, the old cat, 

 taking one by one in her mouth, brought them here.' 

 In other words, the mother had carried them one by 

 one in her mouth from the library to the dressing- 

 room, where they lay quite exposed. I do not think 

 I have heard of a more remarkable instance of rea- 

 soning and affectionate confidence in an animal, and 

 I need hardly say that the latter manifestation gave 

 me great pleasure. The train of reasoning seems to 

 have been as follows, ' Now that my master has 

 returned, there is no risk of the kittens being injured 

 by the two young savages in the house, so I will take 

 them out for my protector to see and admire, and 

 keep them in the corner in which all my former pets 

 have been nursed in safety.' " 



Another story is of a cat which, on first seeing his 

 own reflection in a mirror, tried to fight it. Meeting 

 with resistance from the glass, the cat ran behind the 

 mirror. Not finding the object of his search he again 

 came to the front, and while keeping his eye deliber- 



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