32 RUSSIAN CATS. 



peculiarities of each breed. Yet to the practised eye there 

 is generally — I do not say always — a difference of some 

 sort by which the particular breed may be clearly defined. 

 When the prizes are given, as is the case even at our 

 largest cat shows, for the best long-haired cat, there, of 

 course, exists in the eye of the judge no distinction as 

 regards breed. He selects^ as he is bound to do, that 

 which is the best lo?ig-/iaired cat in all points, the length of 

 hair, colour, texture, and condition of the exhibit being that 

 which commands his first attention. But if it were so put 

 that the prize should be for the best Angora, Persian, 

 Russian, etc., it would make the task rather more than 

 difficult, for I have seen some " first-cross cats " that have 

 possessed all, or nearly all, the points requisite for that of 

 the Angora, Persian, or Russian, while others so bred 

 have been very deficient, perhaps showing the Angora 

 cross only by the tail and a slight and small frill. At the 

 same time it must be noted, that, although from time 

 to time some excellent specimens may be so bred, it is 

 by no means desirable to buy and use such for stock 

 purposes, for they will in all probabiHty "throw back" — 

 that is, after several generations, although allied with 

 thoroughbred, they will possibly have a little family of quite 

 " short-hairs." I have known this with rabbits, who, after 

 breeding short-haired varieties for some time, suddenly 

 reverted to a litter of " long-hairs " ; but have not carried 

 out the experiment with cats. At the same time I may 

 state that I have little or no doubt that such would be the 

 case ; therefore I would urge on all those who are fond of 

 cats — or, in fact, other animals — of any particular breed, 

 to use when possible none but those of the purest pedigree, 

 as this will tend to prevent much disappointment that might 

 otherwise ensue. But I am digressing, and so back to my 

 subject — the Russian long-haired cat. I advisedly say 

 long-haired cat, for I shall hereafter have to treat of other 

 cats coming from Russia that are short-haired, none of those 

 which I have hitherto seen being tabbies, but whole colour. 

 This is the more singular as all those of the long-hair have 



