126 CABNIVORA FISSIPEDIA. 



There are some varieties of House Cats like the 

 Angora species and the tailless Manx Cat that for 

 various reasons have a commercial value. Among 

 other singular breeds may be mentioned the Mombas Cat 

 of Africa, which has short, stiff, close-lying hairs instead 

 of fur. The Persian, believed by some to be descended 

 from the Asiatic Cat, is the largest variety of Domestic 

 Cat, and the Diminutive Paraguay Cat is the smallest 

 representative of the species. 



MANX CAT. 



The skin of the Domestic Cat like that of other cats is 

 much thicker at the head than on the rest of the body, 

 as a natural protection to the males in fighting. Owing 

 to the elasticity of its limbs, and the freedom with which 

 the skin moves on the body, it can also fall or jump from 

 a great height without sustaining serious injury. 



The black skins are the most valuable, and the largest 

 and best of these come from Holland. Denmark and Hoi- 

 stein also produce good black skins, and fair and medium 

 skins are obtained in Germany, France and Switzer- 

 land. Russia produces many skins, but they are of poor 

 quality. All cat skins have a line of bristly hair running 

 down the back, which is cut out when they are being manu- 

 factured into articles of fur wear. The black skins are 

 often called " Genet ;" but while they are a good depend- 

 able fur it is a misrepresentation to sell them for Genets. 



Cuvier says, that the habitat of the Domestic Cat was 

 originally in the forests of Europe; where in its wild 

 state the fur was of a greyish brown with dark trans- 



