220 General Notes. [ February, — 
probably occurs through the respiratory organ, and is according 
to the simple laws of diffusion. On the other hand, the blood of 
sea-fishes, has an entirely different saline composition from that 
of the water; it is more or less isolated, presenting herein an evi- 
dent superiority over the invertebrates referred to—ature, 
PSYCHOLOGY. 
ANECDOTE ABOUT Cats.—Incidents showing some power of- 
reason are often related of animals, especially those domesticated; 
but I do not think the following have ever appeared in print: 
Near Vineland, N. J., some boys discovered a woodchuck’s bur 
row (Arctomys monax L.), containing both adults and four young. 
The father and two of the young were killed; the mether andthe 
other two young were taken home, and imprisoned. During the 
night the mother made her escape. Asa matter of experiment 
the young were placed with a cat, at that time suckling her two 
kittens. - Shortly after the cat came into the house somewhat un- 
easy. One of the boys went out with her to the noyel family, and 
finally succeeded in pacifying her to such an extent that sie 
allowed the strangers to suckle. But now a new difficulty arose 
There were but two teats sufficiently developed to afford nourish: 
ment. A struggle ensued as to who should obtain possession: 
The woodchucks being the stronger, came off victorious. Fhe 
kittens showed their dislike to this arrangement by scratching 
and pushing, and as it was evident that two of the four must o% 
removed, a decision was given in favor of the woodchucks . 
Shortly after, one of them died; whether the other ever reached 
maturity or not, I do not know, but understood that it continued 
to suck the cat for some time. That cats are not always 
accommodating as the above individual, I know from the fact, 
once when I endeavored to have a cat with three kittens ass0" " 
charge of two more, I was obliged to hastily withdraw them to 
prevent their being killed. In another case one kitten was be 
ished by two cats. As to whether either was the parent or or : 
cannot say: Once when the mothers desired to remove their GH” 
from the mill where it was then located, to a neighboring ho 
they found their infant, corpulent with the abundant nourishmen 
too heavy for either alone, and consequently were obliged to catf i 
it between them.—Heury Turner. a 
Tue Mopiriep Instincts oF A Buinp Cat.—Mr. H. C. Hove : 
contributes to the Scientific American the following interesting 
article on the modified instincts of a blind cat. The family favor 
whose misfortunes have afforded an opportunity to observe 
workings of instinct under difficulties, is a noble specimen of 
genus Felis. “Dido” is his name—given for simple eUp™ 
without regard to gender. During the four years of his life he 
never been known to do anything wrong, unless it be to Be 
