22 ANGORA CATS. 



white, with blue eyes, being thought the perfection of cats, 

 all other points being good, and its hearing by no means 

 defective. The points are a small head, with not too long 

 a nose, large full eyes of a colour in harmony with that of 

 its fur, ears rather large than small and pointed, with a tuft 

 of hair at the apex, the size not showing, as they are deeply 

 set in the long hair on the forehead, with a very full flowing 

 mane about the head and neck ; this latter should not be 

 short, neither the body, which should be long, graceful, and 

 elegant, and covered with long, silky hair, with a slight 

 admixture of woolliness ; in this it differs from the Persian, 

 and the longer the better. In texture it should be as fine 

 as possible, and also not so woolly as that of the Russian ; 

 still it is more inclined to be so than the Persian. The legs 

 to be of moderate length, and in proportion to the body ; 

 the tail long, and slightly curving upward towards the end. 

 The hair should be very long at the base, less so toward the 

 tip. When perfect, it is an extremely beautiful and elegant 

 object, and no wonder that it has become a pet among the 

 Orientals. The colours are varied; but the black which 

 should have orange eyes, as should also the slate colours, and 

 blues, and the white are the most esteemed, though the soft 

 slates, blues, and the light fawns, deep reds, and mottled 

 grays are shades of colour that blend well with the Eastern 

 fifrniture and other surroundings. There are also light 

 grays, and what is termed smoke colour ; a beauty was shown 

 at Brighton which was white with black tips to the hair, the 

 white being scarcely visible, unless the hair was parted ; 

 this tinting had a marvellous effect. I have never seen im- 

 ported strong-coloured tabbies of this breed, nor do I 

 believe such are true Angoras. Fine specimens are even 

 now rare in this country, and are extremely valuable. In 

 manners and temper they are quiet, sociable, and docile, 

 though given to roaming, especially in the country, where I 

 have seen them far from their homes, hunting the hedgerows 

 more like dogs than cats ; nor do they appear to possess the 

 keen intelligence of the short-haired European cat. They 

 are not new to us, being mentioned by writers nearly a 



