ANECDOTES ABOUT CATS 245 



ever brought out), he was of the most aristocratic pedigree 

 obtainable. 



Whether, when he was at large, his pride of race was 

 too much for him, or whether he was short-tempered as 

 well as short-haired I cannot say, as he was always most 

 gentle and amiable with us, and I have never heard any 

 complaint of his behaviour at shows, where he was so 

 often to be seen amongst the prize-winners, as on the few 

 occasions when he was beaten, it was usually by his own 

 mother, if shown in a mixed class ; but he was dictatorial 

 and aggressive with all sorts and conditions of other 

 cats, and if he caught sight of one would dart after it 

 with all speed, and literally make the fur fly in his deter- 

 mined attack on his adversary, seeming to consider he 

 combined in himself not only a recognised champion of 

 short-haired cats, but of the race of domestic cats, when- 

 ever he found them. 



In consequence of this peculiarity, I was obliged to 

 keep him in much more restricted liberty than any other 

 of my cats, as he was too valuable to be risked and did 

 not object to going long distances to meet with a foeman 

 worthy of his steel. His portrait, that of his mother and 

 uncle, appear in my sketch of the Short-haired Silver 

 Tabby Cat, and I hope will give my readers a good idea 

 of that beautiful variety, which I think has no superior. 



The following will show how one of the many silly 

 prejudices which exist in the minds of those who really 

 know little or nothing about the animal, caused the 

 destruction of the cat : 



" A cat which had long been remarked as one of the 



