THE SHORT-HAIRED CAT 199 



THE MANX CAT 



This variety, to the best of my knowledge, informa- 

 tion and belief, does not include any long-haired specimens, 

 and, as far as I have heard or seen, does not comprise all the 

 colours usually associated with other short-haired varieties. 



I have reason to believe white specimens are very 

 seldom seen, and the first I ever had of the variety was 

 of that colour. I will give his portrait to illustrate 

 this sketch, as he was one of the most typical specimens 

 I have seen, and winner of many prizes while in 

 my possession, and also a portrait of Mrs H. C. 

 Brooke's " Champion." 



I may at once say that it is a mistake to suppose that 

 any cat that had lost its tail might be taken for a " Manx," 

 or would have any chance of notice at a show, if the 

 judge understood the variety, as the make of the animal, 

 its movements and its general character are all distinctive. 



I have proved the truth of the late Mr Herbert 

 Young's assertion as to half-bred Manx Cats having 

 tail-less progeny, and can go a step further, as, during the 

 time I kept the variety, I found some of the females of 

 other short-haired breeds were liable to produce kittens 

 with short, and, on some occasions, no tails. This was 

 really the reason why I determined to give up keeping 

 Manx, although the only male of the variety in my 

 possession was not allowed to be at large, or mated 

 with any but his own species. 



Any of my readers who may desire to take up the 

 variety, which is quaint and interesting and I found all 



