256 HOME AND GAEDEN 



never forget it ; so much so, that if they see a hand 

 lying idle they are very apt to give it a friendly 

 nudge and to say, "What is that hand doing, not 

 stroldng ME ? " 



I much prefer cats of the common short-haired kind. 

 They are stronger and hardier than the long-haired 

 breeds, and the short fur always looks and feels much 

 cleaner and brighter, and they can keep it nice them- 

 selves without any need of adventitious grooming; 

 and there are never those long periods — nine months 

 out of the twelve it always seems to me — when the 

 owner is apologising for a ragged ruff or a wispy tail. 

 And then the short coat allows one to see the beauti- 

 ful structure, and every detail of lithe bound and 

 lively caper, and all the infinitely varied and graceful 

 movements that are so pleasant to watch. 



Tabby and white is my favourite colouring. I 

 have two all tabby without white, and dear pussies 

 they are ; but for appearance I like them better with 

 white fronts and paws ; it makes them look so clean 

 and well-dressed. The word " tabby " has an interest- 

 ing etymology ; coming from an Arabic root, and 

 always signifpng something striped or waved or 

 brindled, whether of animal's coat or of woven fabric. 

 Hence also the word " tabinet " for a woven stuff of 

 striated surface ; and doubtless the same word cor- 

 rupted is the " tabouret " of the modern upholsterer, 

 the name of a woven silk stuff whose design is always 

 in stripes. It was much in use at the beginning of 



