2l6 OUR HOME PETS 



The black cat suffers from lingering super- 

 stition in the human mind, and great injustice 

 has been done him on this account. I believe 

 that Poe's horrible story in which he figures 

 has also implanted in many people a feeling 

 of repulsion they would hardly like to call 

 superstition, yet which cannot be anything 

 else. All this is exceedingly unjust to an in- 

 nocent fellow-creature, who can no more help 

 his color than we can ours. He is said to pos- 

 sess qualities finer than those of his fellows, 

 being keener of hearing, greater in courage 

 and spirit, and surpassing all others as a 

 mouser. He is also more electrical than his 

 congeners. To be perfect he must have yel- 

 low eyes, and fine silky fur without a white 

 hair. One young lady of my acquaintance 

 has had for a great many years a large family 

 of black cats, keeping them pure by at once 

 banishing any one showing a white hair. She 

 declares them to be the most knowing and 

 delightful of the race. 



The Maltese, of many shades, from dark 

 slate-color to an almost silvery hue, is always 

 beautiful, intelligent, and good-tempered. To 

 be perfect of his kind he should be a solid 



