From Edith Evans 27 January [1882]1
7, Clarendon Villas, | Park Town, Oxford.
January 27th
Dear Sir,
I take the liberty of writing to you about a curious kind of cat, of which I heard from a friend, the Revd. James Roy of Montreal, who has since written me all the particulars he can remember; they are as follows:—
“It is more than twenty years since I lived where those curious cats were, so that I cannot tell whether any of them exist now or not. Whether they ever had kittens or not, I cannot now say, as my recollection of the facts is somewhat dim.
The cats lived in various parts of the valley of the Ottawa, and were all of them cat-shaped in head and fore-quarters, and rabbit-shaped in the hind quarters and tail. They leaped like rabbits, had a strange, hoarse cry, and had the reputation of being capital mousers. With one single exception, they were all of the color of what we call Maltese cats, a bluish-grey or mouse color, with, sometimes, spots of white, generally on the breast. The one exception was of a tortoise-shell hue, having at least three colors, black, white and yellow.
I remember that I had an impression that they were a cross between rabbits and cats; but I have now no means of knowing whether my impressions were correct or not.”2
I wonder much whether it is possible for there to be a cross between animals of such opposite habits or whether there can be some other explanation of these curious creatures. If it is not asking too great a favour I should be extremely interested to know your opinion; possibly these rabbit-cats may be familiar to you. I Trusting to the interest of the subject as my apology for the liberty I have taken in addressing you, | I remain, Sir, | Yours truly, | Mrs. J. Gwenogfryn Evans.
Charles Darwin, Esq,.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Train, Joseph, 1845. An historical and statistical account of the Isle of Man, from the earliest times to the present date; with a view of its ancient laws, peculiar customs, and popular superstitions. 2 vols. Douglas, Isle of Man: Mary A. Quiggin.
Summary
Reports observations on curious cats that appear to be cat–rabbit hybrids.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13646
- From
- Edith Hunter/Edith Evans
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Oxford
- Source of text
- DAR 201: 9
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13646,” accessed on 4 June 2023, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13646.xml