40 CARNIVORA. 



sometimes plaintive, like a child, and sometimes angry 

 and discordant. 



Domestic cats, become wild, soon acquire the habits 

 and colom* of the wild cat. Many are shot by game- 

 keepers, and are sometimes taken in traps like the 

 familiar penny mouse-trap, on a larger scale, with a 

 drop door instead of the spring flap. 



The domestic cat ought to be classed with the wild ; 

 it is the same species. 



The trade in the fur or skins of the cat is of some 

 importance. The hair is soft, and it is one of the 

 warmest furs. It is, perhaps, only surpassed in this 

 respect by that of the buffalo. 



Every skin has a ridge of bristly hair running down 

 the back. This hair has to be taken out when manu- 

 factured into articles of clothing. When finished, it is 

 often called genett, and is much used for coat-linings, 

 muffs, sets, trimmings, and rugs. Although not a very 

 showy skin, it is a good, durable, and warm fur. 



The black skins are of the greatest value. 



The best and largest black skins come from Holland, 

 where many cats are gelded. Denmark and Holstein 

 also produce many good skins, and medium grades are 

 collected in Germany, Switzerland, and other districts. 

 English skins are very mixed in colour and small, but 

 of fair quality. Eussia produces many skins, but of low, 

 medium, or poor qualities. Many are imported in linings. 



American skins, of which about 3,000 are imported 

 annually, are generally black, blue, white, or tabby in 

 colour, and of rather low quality. The prices are from 

 about 3d. to Is. 6d. 



Australian skins are very flat, the worst of all in 

 quality, losing their rich coat in the warm climate. 

 The predominating colour is red-tabby. 



