28 PERSIAN CATS. 



remark that in these colours the hair is generally of a softer 

 texture, as far as I have observed, than that of any other 

 colour, not excepting the white, which is also in much 

 request. Then follow the various shades of light tabbies, 

 so light in the marking having scarcely a right to be called 

 tabbies ; in fact, tabby is not a Persian colour, nor have I 

 ever seen an imported cat of that colour — I mean firmly, 

 strongly marked with black on a brown-blue or gray ground, 

 until they culminate in those of intense richness and density 

 in the way of deep, harmonious browns and reds, yet still 

 preserving throughout an extreme delicacy of line and 

 tracery, never becoming harsh or hard in any of its arrange- 

 ments or colour; not as the ordinary short-haired tabby. 

 The eyes should be orange-yellow in the browns, reds, blues, 

 grays, and blacks. 



As far as my experience extends, and I have had 

 numerous opportunities of noticing, I find this variety less 

 reliable as regards temper than the short-haired cats, less 

 also in the keen sense of observing, as in the Angora, and 

 also of turning such observations to account, either as 

 regards their comfort, their endeavour to help themselves, 

 or in their efforts to escape from confinement. 



In some few cases I have found them to be of almost a 

 savage disposition, biting and snapping more like a dog 

 than a cat, and using their claws less for protective purposes. 

 Nor have I found them so " cossetty " in their ways as those 

 of the "short-coats," though I have known exceptions in 

 both. 



They are much given to roam, as indeed are the Russian 

 and Angora, especially in the country, going considerable 

 distances either for their own pleasure or in search of food, 

 or when "on the hunt." After mature consideration, I 

 have come to the conclusion that this breed, and slightly so 

 the preceding, are decidedly different in their habits to the 

 short-haired English domestic cat, as it is now generally 

 called. 



It may be, however, only a very close observer would 

 notice the several peculiarities which I consider certainly 



