GEOLOGY. 56 
female cat would encounter in the prosecution of their amours, 
and that therefore if such a monstrous union were possible, the 
marriage must be between a cat and female raccoon. But until 
most cogent evidence is adduced, I must remain sceptical as to 
the possibility of any fruitful union whatever. 
f course, no reflection is cast upon the eminent, gentlemen 
who published the account of the remarkable animal, and who have 
only repeated what they heard; they, probably not being very fa- 
miliar with the order of mammals in question, naturally believed 
in and reflected the opinions of others. My only object in this 
communication is to elicit more evidence while it may readily be 
obtained, and I may be allowed to express the hope that when the 
animal— happily for the interest of science !— dies, it may be re- - 
served for a more worthy fate than to leave its skin stuffed for a 
museum: it should, of course, be submitted to the examination 
of a critical anatomist. 
In conclusion, a few words respecting the nature of the evidence 
required in alleged cases of hybridity may be serviceable. In 
view of the constant statements respecting hybrids circulated in 
various publications, affirmations and beliefs are not sufficient. 
Hybrids partake of characters peculiar to each parent, but modi- 
fied by the sex of each parent. Therefore, all the men of China, 
Me., might swear they saw a cat and raccoon in coitu (and in view 
of the strength of the sexual instinct, the allegation might not be 
wholly incredible), and all the men of Taunton might swear that 
they believed that the offspring of one of the animals was the re- 
sult of such amours (and in view of the credulity of man and the 
general ignorance respecting nature, the reality of such belief 
would be quite credible!) but all such affirmations and beliefs 
would not meet the requisites of the case, unless the offspring 
shared characteristics of each parent, and even if it were further 
sworn that the female had been precluded from intercourse with 
another animal, it would be no further evidence, for unless the al- 
legation was confirmed by the characteristics of the animal, we 
would still have-infallible nature against truthful and at least fal- 
- lible man. — THEODORE GILL. 
i GEOLOGY. 
GEOLOGY or THE PHospHATE Beps oF Sours Carora. — Dr. 
