76 SIAMESE CATS. 



chocolate cat ; they all come fawn, with black or dark 

 brown points ; the last family are a little darker on their 

 backs, which gives them a richer appearance than the pale 

 fawn. Hitherto we have never had any half-bred Siamese ; 

 but there used to be a male Siamese at Hurworth-on-Tees, 

 and there were many young bred from English cats. They 

 invariably showed the Siamese cross in the ground colour." 



From the foregoing it will be seen how very difficult it is 

 to obtain the pure breed, even in Siam, and on reference to 

 the Crystal Palace catalogues from the year 187 1 until 1887, 

 I find that there were fifteen females and on\y four males, 

 and some of these were not entire ; and I have always 

 understood that the latter were not allowed to be exported, 

 and were only got by those so fortunate as a most extra- 

 ordinary favour, as the King of Siam is most jealous of 

 keeping the breed entirely in Siam as royal cats. 



The one exhibited by Lady Dorothy Nevill (Mrs. 

 Poodle) had three kittens by an English cat ; but none 

 showed any trace of the Siamese, being all tabby. 



Although Mr. Herbert Young was informed by Mr. 

 Brennand that there is another and a larger breed in Siam, 

 it does not appear that any of these have been imported ; 

 nor have we any description of them, either as to colour, 

 size, form, or quality of coat, or whether they resemble the 

 lesser variety in this or any respect, yet it is to be hoped that, 

 ere long, some specimens may be secured for this country. 



Besides Mr. Herbert Young, I am also much indebted 

 to the courtesy of Mrs. Vyvyan, of Dover, who is a lover of 

 this beautiful breed, and who kindly sends the following 

 information : 



" The original pair were sent from Bangkok, and it is 

 believed that they came from the King's Palace, where alone 

 the breed are said to be kept pure. At any rate they were 

 procured as a great favour, after much delay and great 

 difficulty, and since that time no others have been attainable 

 by the same person. We were in China when they reached 

 us, and the following year, 1886, we brought the father, 

 mother, and a pair of kittens to England. 



