46 The Carnivora. 
auditory nerves. The tympanum, iris, and skin, having all a 
common origin in the epiblast of the embryo, suffer in common 
an arrest of development; the pigment being absent from the 
skin and deficient in the iris, and the tympanum imperfect. 
According to Mr. Tait’s experience, female cats are far more 
numerous than male, irrespective of colour; but, as he has 
known only one deaf female cat for some twenty males so 
affected, he concludes this form of arrested development to 
be more general with the male sex. 
In the early summer, a large proportion of cats in populous 
towns undergo great suffermg from the gross neglect of their’ 
owners, which everyone possessed of any feeling regards with 
the utmost indignation. We are assuredly bound by all con- 
siderations of humanity to undertake that those animals which 
have become dependent upon us by our own act, whether for our 
use or the gratification of our fancy, shall never be neglected. 
Many people, however, and particularly those whose means 
render totally inexcusable the selfishness which inflicts so much 
suffering, shut up their houses and go to the seaside or into the 
country, leaving the cat at home literally to starve. About the 
middle of June or July, any observant person may notice, by a 
survey of the adjoining back premises, these wretchedly gaunt 
creatures sitting on roofs and walls, or wandering carelessly 
about, howling piteously in despair at their desertion. I cannot 
understand how children and young girls, who have fondled and 
caressed these animals, can go right away and disport them- 
selves on the yellow sands without a thought of the misery, the 
downright physical agony of starvation, inflicted on their former 
pets. Were anyone to set a terrier to worry the house cat, they 
would be the first to exclaim against the brutality of the act; 
yet in the whirl of excitement, in the anticipation of their own 
pleasures, they fail to reflect on the miserable death to which 
they are condemning a once favourite animal. Making all 
allowance for the truth of Hood’s lines, that 
Evil is wrought by want of thought 
As well as want of heart, 
