THE PROFESSOR ON PAWS. By A. B. Cox. (Collins, 7s.
6d. net.)—As a scientific fantasy The Professor on Paws is a failure. No one could possibly believe that, after Professor Ridgeley had been transferred, by means of an experiment in brain-grafting, into the body of an ordinary black cat, he would need so little re-education to feel himself at home. He begins to speak, for example, as soon as he " comes to " ; and Mr. Cox does not seem at all surprised at this triumphant manipula. tion of quite unsuitable apparatus. He has his excuse. The novel is really a farce, and a verygood one. He is probably quite justified in asking Us to suspend our critical faculties ; but we feel that he should not have pretended to be scientific, or that he should have pretended much harder. But when once the experiment has succeeded, and we have brought ourselves to a credulous frame of mind, the story is the best of fun. The misadventures of the poor Professor, who is now the legitimate prey of all small boys, dogs, and fur-merchants, are told with great humour. And he is obviously destined to many embarrassments when pleasant young ladies stroke him and address him in baby laii,guage. On the whole, his transmigration is good for his character ; he was grumpy and domineering when he was in human form—and that is a part he can no longer sustain.
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