380 Proceedings of the Eoyal Physical Society. 



shortest, 13 months being the longest) is probably attribut- 

 able to the season, the weather, or to the health of the 

 animal. The males in the neighbourhood were of various 

 colours ; and it could not easily be ascertained which of 

 them was the parent of each group. But there having 

 been only 11 of her own colour out of 78, seem to confirm 

 the observation regarding other animals, that the colour of 

 the progeny does not proceed from the mother. 



In regard to the kittenings, a curious observation was 

 made. There was always great restlessness beforehand. 

 She wandered about the house as if in search of a suitable 

 nest. But for a good many hours, whatever had been her 

 relations to the dog, I mean whether they had been friends 

 or not, she manifested attachment to him of the most marked 

 kind. She followed him from room to room, evidently to 

 his great annoyance, and in vain solicited his attention to 

 her. This was renewed for a short time after the kittening. 

 After the entire process had been completed, and the mother 

 with her progeny were quietly settled in their nest, then the 

 dog began his attention to the kittens, watching over them, 

 and licking them with his tongue, as assiduously as if he had 

 been himself the parent. This always continued for several 

 days. These incidents are probably well known to natu- 

 ralists ; but they will excuse me for having recorded them 

 here. 



Puss continued for years in very much the same mode of 

 life ; a good mouser, a keen hunter of sparrows — occasion- 

 ally a thief, and then punished as such. She generally came 

 to the dining-room as the dinner was carried in, always 

 expecting, and often receiving, a share of what was at table. 

 She came, however, at other times also, when no food was 

 expected. She occasionally disappeared for a day or two, 

 and returned with slight wounds, for she was a decided 

 fighter. On one occasion (the date of which I have not 

 noticed, but it was probably in 1864), her absence was 

 longer than usual, and she returned in a state^of great weak- 

 ness, very little able to move, and scarcely to swallow. The 

 right eyeball was destroyed, and protruded from the socket. 



