12 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



where the latter is black the other is a sort of dark slate 

 blue. 



These are decidedly pretty rabbits, rather of small 

 medium size, quite a fancy rather than a useful sort to 

 keep, and breeders of them must be prepared to draw more 

 blanks than prizes in their breeding operations, because 

 many of them, as I have said, fail in their tan markings, 



I think it was in the year 1871 that my respected 

 friend, Mr Harrison Weir, who all his life has been 

 interested in animals, used his influence and valuable help 

 in inaugurating the series of exhibitions of Cats at the 

 Crystal Palace, which have, I believe (I have attended 

 nearly all of them, and taken numbers of prizes there), 

 been continued every year since without a break. 



For a great number of years he and his late brother, 

 Mr John Jenner Weir, F.Z.S., were the only judges 

 appointed at these shows, and they also officiated at the 

 cat shows held year after year at the Royal Aquarium, 

 Brighton. 



Although many others have been held from time to 

 time in different parts of the kingdom, I think these have 

 maintained their position at the head of affairs in the Cat 

 Fancy, and that exhibitors have always valued success at 

 those places more than at any other exhibition. 



Since the foundation of the National Cat Club, 

 followed by the Cat Club and the British Cat Club, of 

 course cats have attained a more important position than 

 they formerly held, and not only are they raised in 

 popular favour, but have greatly increased in value, so 

 that specimens of sufficient quality to win prizes in their 



