The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-03
Prince Krapotkin's CAT.

Does cat see its reflection in tho
CLASP Such is the question which has
been raised in the columns of the Revme
Scitntifque. Among others, Prince
Krapotkin has sent his experience from
his prison. The Prince has, it seems,
during his captivity, made humble
friend of cat. Il see," says the
Prince. ''by reading the interesting
notes in the two last numbers of the
ReUue that there exists n doubt as to
whether cat can see its reflection in
glass. have cat about IA months
old. which have brought up in prison,
and as regards it, at least. there can
be no doubt upon this subject. When
it was little it amused us much by seek
ing cat behind the glass. even when
showed it very small one. have
Just repeated the experiment by show
ing it small oval mirror twenty cent?
meters long. When it saw its own re-
Elected image it Immediately assumed
serious air. 1t endeavored to touch
it with its paw, but finding that there
was glass interposed it peeped behind
the mirror. If drew the mirror back
ward it pursued until, being quicker
than / was in its movements, it discov-
cred that there was no cat behind, and
then it went away and did not concern
itself about the reflection any more. l
should add that my little pupil is as a
general thing very intelligent. For in
stance. when it wants my door opened
it does not NEW, it stretches itself to
its full length, and shakes the latch
with its paw. If the door had another
kind of fastening it would certainly
open it by raising the latch. 1t knows
perfectly we'll the meaning of all the
bells which ring in the prison-that to
bid the inmates rise in the morning,
that which sounds before soup is served.
Its dictionary is very limited, but it
understands perfectly the meaning of
the words it knows. Thus in the ev-
ening. when walk in my room, it per-
forms all sorts of gambols, and, by
making certain special sound, endeav-
ors to make me play with it at hide
and seek Git plays this game exactly as
do children, and insists that each party
should hide in his turn) or to draw a
string along for it to run after. If. in
reply to its invitations to play. say to
it: What do you wantp Food! drink!
it is displeased, and goes with sulky
air to sit behind my little stove. But
when say, The stringp' it replies
Immediately by two sounds concerning
the affirmative tone of which there can
DO no doubt. l could relate other in
stances of sagacity, but do not wish
to appear to impose upon the credulity
of your readers. There is. however,
an interesting point which it would be
well to have cleared up. Are cats sus-
ceptible to musicp Without being able
to affim positively, believe that they
are. When my cat was little 1t several
times seemed TO us that it found real
pleasure in listening to some air of q
pleasing cadence-for example, the
waltz from 'Faust'-provided that it
was sung by Il very high and pure voice.
We even thought that music caused it
to assume almost n sentimental air. 1t
is unnecessary to say that my cat, like
all others, is very susceptible TO caress-
es, and-for must confess its faults
to ilattery. In general cats arc less in
teligcnt that dogs, but by care and
attention their intelligence can DC
highly developed. | am sorry that |
have not sufficient time, or i should
undertake the education of my cat by
q system of cards us proposed by Lub-
lock. Pal Mall Gazette.