COLOUR AND MARKINGS IN THE DOMESTIC CAT. 355 
reversed, the general rule here being, for the greater part of the 
surface of the fur, light markings on a darker ground, disposed, 
with the exception of those on the face, legs, and chest, in a 
manner totally different to that already described. There is, so 
far as I am aware, no distinctive name for this arrangement of 
colours, but it might for want of a better, and to distinguish it 
from the other kind of tabby, be called the “‘ring-tabby,” from 
the invariable presence of a large ring of the lighter of the two 
shades, more or less perfect, situated on the side of the body, 
a little in front of the flank, the dark space enclosed by it 
containing in most cases yet another light mark near the centre, 
varying in form and distinctness in different individuals. This 
ring is partly encircled above and behind by another light-coloured 
mark, somewhat in the manner of the rings surrounding the 
bull's-eye of a target. This mark is very wide behind, becoming 
gradually narrower as it extends forwards, which is only for a few 
inches, the upper edge being often jagged; its shape serves to 
harmonize the curve of the upper part of the ring with the two 
straight, light-coloured lines which invariably extend along the 
back, over the loins, one on each side of the spine, from the root 
of the tail to a point between the sboulder-blades, where they 
suddenly diverge, and again nearly meeting run parallel to each 
other till they become merged in the light tint of the nape of the 
neck, which may here be said to form the ground colour; for 
although the greater part of the body is dark with light markings, 
the head and neck, chest, and lower half of the limbs, would be 
better described as having a light ground with dark markings, 
which scarcely differ from those in pattern 1. The shoulder- 
markings are often rather obscure, and it is almost impossible to 
give a good idea of them in writing, but there is a general tendency 
to follow the direction of the scapulars, and at the same time to 
harmonize and fit in, so to speak, with the rest of the markings 
in a beautiful but very subtle manner. 
The lines running along the back of the neck in cats of both 
patterns are five in number (two or more of them often running 
into each other for a part of their length), the two outer lines in 
the case of the ring-tabby being continued backwards in a sweeping 
curve, so as to lead gradually into the dark bands which traverse 
the chest, enclosing a large space at the side of the head and 
neck, almost without markings; this is bounded below by a broad 
