58 
CARNIVORA. 
ceived one from the Isle of Wight, which, however, 
could not be reconciled to its new habitation. 
It appears, by the BibliotMque Universelle, that a 
hybridous race has lately been propagated between 
the domestic cat and the pine marten, which, con- 
trary to the more ordinary course of nature, is pro- 
lific ; and, as these animals are said to breed freely, 
they seem likely to become a distinct hereditary 
species. They appear to have more of the character 
of the marten than the cat, as the snout is elongated, 
and the claws are not retractile ; but they are per- 
fectly domesticated ; and the fur is very fine. The 
teeth are not ^described. The account must, how- 
ever, be taken with caution ; as, although the animals 
in question partake as much or more of the character 
of ^the marten than of the cat, the original inter- 
course which produced them is merely supposititious. 
May not this be the Pensa cat mentioned in Pallas’s 
Travels ? 
The fur of the cat, when dry, will yield electric 
sparks by rubbing ; and if the animal be placed on 
an electrical stool with glass legs, and rubbed for 
a short time in contact with the wire from a coated 
jar, the jar will be effectually charged with electric 
matter. 
Cats dislike being wetted, and are averse to many 
scents;i but they are passionately fond of the smell 
of the valerian root. 
Such as have lost their young have been known 
to transfer their maternal affection to leverets, young 
squirrels, and even rats ; and it would probably be 
