.'I 



( \<SKLL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE TORTOISE-SHELL CAT. 



, > M ,.f the prettiest varieties of those which have the fur of moderate length is so denominated". It 

 has n.. particle of silvery gloss. The colours are very pure black, white, and reddish orange; and 

 in this country, at least, males thus marked are said to be rare, though they are quite common in 

 Egypt and tlie's'outh of Europe. Tortoise-shell cats are very elegant, and, though delicate in form, are, 

 at the same time, very active, and among the most attached and grateful of their race. 



T1IE TAIL-LESS CAT. 



TIIK breed of cats without tails is well known in the Isle of Man, and accounted by its people as 

 006 of its greatest curiosities. The hind legs of these animals are rather larger than those of the cats 

 with tails, giving them somewhat of a rabbit-like aspect. Hence it has been supposed that they are 



CATS AT T1IF.IK GAJIBOM. AFTKK A GP.OTKSOrK KXGRAVISG ri'HI.ISIIKII IN TIIK SEVENTEENTH I'hNTURT. 



a cross )>et\veen the cat and the rabbit. The tail-less cats are said to be good mousers. When :i 

 I animal of this kind is crossed with an ordinary tailed cat, the progeny are said to exhibit all 

 intermediate states between tail and no tail. 



* >!' all fdinc animals the domestic cat is the most fertile, arising from the abundance of food, shelter, 

 and protection i-cmsc(j\it!iit on her alliance with man. 



'I'he domestic cat i.s MTV nervous, and easily startled. She gives out the electric spark when her 



fur is rubbed contrary to its direction, as is very conspicuous when this is done in the dark. Under 



the excitement of fear, the same effect is produced on the long hairs of the tail, as if a stream of 



"it \ Wl .,.,. transmitted through them, and they all stood out from the surface to which they are 



lied, giving the tail an appearance of treble its usual thickness; at the same time the back is 



80, and the body drawn into the. smallest compass. Cats are attracted by peculiar odours, and 



exhibit great fondness (',,> catmint and valerian, rubbing their noses, and rolling themselves in the 



