384 



UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 



way that suggests nothing so much as "clay in the hands of the 

 potter ". By taking advantage of variations that occur naturally 

 it is possible to "make to order" almost any desired pattern of 

 the canine race. 



The Cat [Fclis dovicsiiciis). — The differences between the 

 various breeds of this animal are by no means so striking as 

 those existing between the different sorts of dog, and chiefly relate 

 to colour, character of the fur, and relative length of the tail. It 

 has been suggested that the stripes of the "tabby" indicate a 



strain derived from the 

 ordinary Wild Cat [Felis 

 caiiis) of Europe. Among 

 both wild and tame ani- 

 mals it is not uncommon 

 to find individuals in 

 which pigment is either 

 present in excess, or else 

 largely deficient. Illustra- 

 tions of this are afforded 

 by " nigger " rabbits and 

 white blackbirds. Such 

 "sports " are respecti\'ely 

 described in technical 

 language as examples of 

 "melanism" and "al- 

 binism". The jet black 

 cat once associated with 

 magical practices, and the pure white pussy with blue eyes are 

 thus classed. Why albino cats should be usually deaf as appears 

 to be the case, is as yet unexplained. The long and handsome 

 coats of the Persian or Angora Cats (fig. 1272) renders them 

 great favourites among those who admire felines, though they 

 seem rather apt to be short-tempered, if one may be permitted 

 to say so. 



That the indigenous cats of the Isle of INIan are devoid of 

 tails is known to all ; some of the Crimean cats are said to be 

 similarly deficient, and the same peculiarity has been noticed in 

 some Japanese individuals. Lydekker (in The Royal Natural 

 History) thus speaks of some other peculiar varieties: — " In Siam 

 there is a breed of cats reserved for royalty, characterized by 



Pug Dog 



