SHORT-HAIRED CATS. 



289 



angel as the port of origin ; others, Malta. 

 If the cat originated from Archangel, one 

 would naturally expect a long head of Eastern 

 type. The specimens, however,, from Malta 

 have certainly the round head and more of 

 the English-bred type. The chief points, in 

 my opinion, apart from the shape of head, is 

 body colour, shape, colour of eye, and closeness 

 of coat. They are no doubt a very handsome 

 breed. In colour they are a light blue, with a 

 delicate lavender bloom pervading the whole 

 coat. 



" Of the many good ones that come to 

 my memory, ' Moscow ' (Russian-bred), a big 



difficult fault to breed out. It is noticeable 

 that the females in this breed are so very 

 small, and in marked contrast to the toms. 



" The chief points one desires in this breed 

 are closeness of coat, size, and a distinct light 

 blue eye (not washy). Among the numerous 

 winners are ' Ballochmyle Snow King,' formerly 

 owned by Mr. Sam Woodiwiss, and now the 

 property of Lady Alexander ; ' Ballochmyle 

 Billie Blue Eyes ' and ' Biddy Blue Eyes,' the 

 property of Mrs. Herring. 



" BJackiy ~I am sorry to say, are some- 

 what neglected, considering how striking they 

 are. The dense black coat, the contrast- 









" CHAMPION BALLOCHMVLK OTTEK," TORTOISKSHKLL-AND-WH1TE. 



OWNED BY LADY ALEXANDER. 



winner, owned by Mrs. Carew-Cox ; ' Champion 

 Ballochmyle Blue King,' winner of seven 

 championships and first prizes, owned by Lady 

 Alexander; ' Champion Brookside Iris,' late 

 owner Mrs. Pownall ; ' Blue Boy,' owned by 

 Mr. Sam Woodiwiss ; ' Ballochmyle Brother 

 Bump ' and ' Ballochmyle Sister Goose,' the 

 property of Lady Alexander a big winner. 



" White English cats appear to have lost 

 less in size than many others, as two of the 

 largest winners of to-day viz. ' Ballochmyle 

 Snow King ' and ' Ballochmyle Billie Blue 

 Eyes ' will testify. The white retains the 

 racy, workmanlike character of the true 

 English-bred cat. One fault is very prevalent : 

 they lean very much towards a broken coat 

 (a good many of the white cats penned to-day 

 have this failing) ; it is, no doubt, a very 

 19 



ing grand amber eye, should always find a 

 weak spot in the heart of every exhibitor of 

 the short-haired varieties. The points we 

 look for are chiefly closeness of coat, the black 

 of great density, pure amber eyes set in a 

 good round head topped with small ears. I can 

 well imagine my readers will say, ' A pure 

 amber eye how is it to be got ? It is such a 

 rarity.' I know, however, that by careful 

 mating it is not only possible, but most 

 distinctly certain, as Mr. R. J. Hughes, 

 the late owner of that lovely female ' Amber 

 Queen,' one of the best-eyed cats I have seen, 

 can testify. He, in fact, has bred many of 

 the best-eyed winners of late years : ' Amber 

 Queen,' winner of numerous firsts and cham- 

 pionships, the property of Miss Una Fox ; 

 ' Ballochmyle Black Bump,' owned by Lady 



