Certain Cat Characteristics 



ately fixed on the image, felt around the edge of the 

 glass with his paw, whilst with his head twisted round 

 to the front he assured himself of the persistence of 

 the reflection. He never afterward condescended to 

 notice a mirror. 



I have often made this experiment with young 

 cats, and almost invariably with practically the same 

 results. One of my present cat family, however, 

 seems to understand that the reflection is her own, 

 and often sits and admires herself with an expression 

 of conscious pride in her own attractiveness. 



A writer in the London Spectator vouches for the 

 following : — 



" I was in the habit, a few years ago, of visiting a 

 cottage where the front door, having fallen a little 

 out of the perpendicular, swung open by its own 

 weight whenever the thumb-latch was released. 

 WhUe talking to the inmates one day, I heard a 

 slight rattling of the latch, and presently the door 

 swung back, and a cat dropped from the handle to 

 the floor. The people paid no attention, being evi- 

 dently accustomed to this mode of entry by their 

 domestic pet. She was in the habit of jumping to 

 the handle outside and fidgeting the thumb-plate, 

 which, being in poor repair, was easily released. 

 How it learnt the trick I could not ascertain, but I 

 suspect it began by taking refuge there from a pur- 

 suing dog." 



The habit of opening doors, however, is quite com- 

 24S 



