THE BOOK OF THE CAT. 



It ran, if I remember rightly, somewhat like 

 this : 



Noah, sailing o'er the seas, 



Ran high and dry on Ararat. 

 His dog then made a spring, and took 



The tail from off a pussy cat. 

 Puss through the window quick did fly, 



And bravely through the waters swam, 

 Nor ever stopped, till, high and dry, 



She landed on the Isle of Man. 

 Thus tailless puss earned Mona's thanks, 

 And ever after was called Manx. 



" The most feasible explanation, in my 

 opinion, though of course it can be but a 

 theory, is that these cats were originally im- 

 ported from the East. Asiatic cats of domes- 

 tic varieties show remarkable variety in the 

 shape of their tails, as witness the kinks often 

 found in the tail of the Siamese cat, and the 

 knot tails of other varieties. This subject will 

 be referred to again in a subsequent paper. 



" It is also noticeable that many Manx, like 

 the Siamese, are very dog-like in their habits, 

 showing extreme affection for their owners. 

 Poor old ' Katzen jammer,' for instance, would 

 follow me to the railway station, and many a 

 time on my return, from town have I found him 

 sitting in the middle of a field waiting for me, 

 and on seeing me he would accompany me 

 home just like a dog. 



" To return to the question of the Manx 

 cat's tail, this should, of course, be like snakes 

 in Iceland absent. What we want is for the 

 spinal column to come to an end high up on 

 the back, so that on placing the finger where 

 the tail would begin a hollow or depression is 

 felt. This is the perfection, but it is not always 

 obtainable in even the very best specimens. 

 Next to be desired is when only a little tuft of 

 gristle and hair, with at most a suggestion of 

 a twisted and withered bone, is present. Then 

 comes a distinct caudal vertebra, if twisted 

 or abnormal in shape so much the better ; but 

 in my opinion more than two joints should not 

 be allowed in show specimens at all, though 

 such cats, as. I remarked above, may be valu- 

 able at stud for breeding from. But I see no 

 reason, if Manx breeders would pay more 

 attention, and incompetent judges were barred, 



why absolute taillessness should not be 

 attained in ninety-nine kittens out of each 

 hundred. I have bred many, but none have 

 had the crooked stumps we often see in other- 

 wise good specimens. 



" I do not care for large Manx, which gener- 

 ally look coarse. Here, again, the all-rounder 

 often goes astray, and unduly favours a large 

 cat. 



" I can heartily recommend the Manx as a 

 pet, and the quaintness of his movements are 

 certainly a recommendation. My cats are all 

 house pets, so that I can watch them and enjoy 

 their company ; the ' cattery ' cat is abhor- 

 rent to me. I cannot understand why so few 

 people go in for rationally breeding this quaint 

 variety. I had hoped that the recent purchase 

 by his Majesty of two couples of the breed 

 might have given it a fillip. 



" To illustrate the breed, I may perhaps 

 be accused of egotism in giving the portrait 

 of one of our own cats, but as he is dead it 

 is less invidious than if living specimens were 

 selected, and as they were awarded the very 

 highest prizes by the very greatest authorities 

 they may safely be taken as near perfection. 

 The silver tabby ' Champion and Premier 

 Bonhaki ' was bred by Mr. Jungbluth, one of 

 the keepers of the monkey house at the Zoo. 

 He made his debut at the Botanic Gardens as a 

 kitten, when he was much admired by the then 

 Princess of Wales, and Mr. Wain awarded him 

 the championship. This success he followed up 

 by winning four others under various j udges,and 

 died at the early age of twenty-seven months. 

 ' Champion and Premier Katzenjammer ' was 

 bred at home ; he did not commence his show 

 career till late, and then he had to meet 

 ' Bonhaki,' after whose death, however, he 

 was unbeaten, and had earned his champion 

 title at the time of his death from gastritis last 

 year, which robbed me of one of the most 

 affectionate ' pals ' man ever had, and I am 

 not ashamed to own that many and bitter 

 were the tears I shed over his grave. 



" In conclusion, I would advise Manx fan- 

 ciers to do their best to accustom their cats 

 to seeing strangers, to being handled, and to 



