THE SHORT-HAIRED CAT 189 



They are more often leggy than not, and have usually 

 a long, rather lanky, tucked-up appearance, with more 

 muscle than flesh, but giving the idea of any amount of 

 activity and energy, and seeming more to enjoy an out- 

 door life at a cottage or farm in the country, than to be 

 cooped up in a warm room and made much of as a 

 domestic favourite. 



I have not found them bad-tempered or unsociable, 

 but do not consider they care about a lot of handling or 

 pulling about ; there is something eminently workmanlike 

 about them as a rule, which precludes the idea of their 

 being petted very much. 



As might be supposed, specimens of this variety differ 

 much in their markings, which should be quite pure 

 black, unmixed with tabby or white hairs, and the more 

 they harmonise in evenness and uniformity, the better 

 they are, but two are not often seen exactly alike ; one 

 may have black ears, feet, tail, and a spot or two on body ; 

 another may be all white except markings on head and 

 tail, and another with head and tail white and markings 

 on body and legs only. 



I hope, as illustration to this sketch, to give a portrait 

 of one of my own, whom I called Magpie, and whose 

 colours I rather liked ; he was nearly all white, except 

 black on head and tail, and four large spots on his 

 body. I shall say something of him hereafter in my 

 anecdotes. 



The head should be small, very round, rather long 

 faced and lean, with longish neck, and narrow shoulders 

 and chest. 



