SIR,--I find that even kittens have a code of etiquette, and
understand the niceties of social rank. The other day our kitten was on
the table, when a winged creature which I took for a fly settled just
in front of it. Pussy immediately gracefully retreated backwards till,
on arriving at the edge, she slid to the ground. At first I put down
her behaviour to fright, but it was nothing of the sort. It was a pure
act of courtesy. _The supposed fly was a lady-bird!_ Our intelligent
little animal had shown her instinctive respect for title and sex,
which was naturally very gratifying to an ardent