Dear Sir,

I take the liberty of writing to you about a curious kind of cat, of which I heard from a friend, the Rev^d. 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, | M^rs. J. Gwenogfryn Evans.

Charles Darwin, Esq,.