As short-haired cats have been in a measure, domestic animals since the time of the Egyptians, when they were idolized, it would be difficult to decide their origin, although many scientific people consider them as descendants of the wild cat, which species is much more common in America than in Great Britian, where only a few specimens remain in the hilly and isolated parts of the North of England and Scotland.

Whether our present domestic cats are descended from the wild ones or not, it is certain that the Egyptians were unquestionably first in their domestication, and it is with the domestic cat we are chiefly concerned in this article.

As show animals the short-hairs in this country cannot at present compare in numbers to those exhibited abroad. The chief reason for this is not far to seek.

In England several prominent fanciers have made a special study of the breeding of short-hairs for show purposes the result being that very fine specimens of the breed have been sold for as much "as two hundred dollars, if not more, solely as exhibition animals as there is really not much demand for short-haired kittens, unless they be fit for exhibition. There is very little doubt that the short-haired classes at our shows here will be far better filled now enthusiastic fanciers devote their attention to the cultivation of this variety for exhibition as well as pets.

The desired type for a short-haired cat is a large well-made animal, with round skull, large full eyes and short nose.

The idea should not be to breed a specimen as much like its original progenitors as possible, but, rather to try to improve the type, for no breed of cat, dog, horse, or other animal can make real progress unless a higher type is always kept in view.

The cobby, short-nosed type is most sought after now, even in the Manx varieties.

Short-haired cats are divided into colour classes, much the same as the long-haired varieties, with the following exceptions: There are at present no real chinchillas, though these are being bred for; there are very few creams; I have only seen one solid orange and that was in this country.

The "spotted tabby" is distinctly of the short-haired variety, and although one or two specimens may be seen in long-hairs, they are not a recognized class.

The usual classification for short-hairs is as follows; black, white, blue, brown tabby, silver tabby, red tabby, spotted tabby, blue tabby, tortoise-shell and white, tortoise-shell, and chinchilla or silver is now added at some shows.

To begin with, the three self-colours, black, white, and blue, the black should be pure shining coal black, without white hairs or shadings at the roots of the fur. The eyes to be deep orange colour as in the long-hairs. The latter point is hard to obtain in short-hairs, unless they are bred on purpose for showing, as the majority of those one sees have either green or greenish-yellow eyes.

The whites must also be pure in colour, and should have blue eyes.

The blue short-hair has caused a great deal of discussion in England, where it was first exhibited under the title of "Blue Russian." It was eventually decided to classify all blues as "Blue Short-hairs," and to discard the name of "Russian," as these latter became too scarce to have a class to themselves, and there were so many bred in England that it was decided as more appropriate to classify all under the one heading; these conditions existed for several years, then the breeders of '"Russians" founded a club and classes were again provided for blue Russians apart from the blue short-hairs.

Blues are usually kept for show purposes only in England, and are not nearly so plentiful as house pets as they are in this country, where they are called "Maltese."

They are usually a larger, finer type of cat than any other variety, and have in many cases unusually massive heads.

Needless to say the colour of the coat is a very important item. It should be of a light slate-grey colour with no white hairs, tabby markings, or shadings at the roots of the hair. Considering the number of really good specimens of this variety that there are in this country, anyone taking up the breed as a speciality, should have no difficulty in establishing a fine strain.

The cream short-hairs should of course, come under the self-colour heading, but unfortunatily they are so few and far between that it has been impossible, up to the present, to establish them, especially without markings. If only people with a love for short-hairs would go thoroughly in for an unique variety like the cream, they would be surprised at the result of their trouble, and would do much to popularize short-haired cats.

Cream short-hairs should be a pale fawny colour with eyes as near brown as possible, and of course the general points, such as shape, head formation, etc., should be the same for all other varieties, with the exception, of course, of the Siamese and Abyssinian. Although coming under the short-haired heading, is distinctly a foreign variety.

Brown, silver, and blue tabbies should have their ground colour, brown, silver, or blue, according to class, with black markings to preponderate.

. The red tabby is an exceedingly beautiful variety, if carefully bred, and should be as deep a red colour as possible, with markings of an intensely deep chocolate. These cats have been bred to such a point of excellence that their brilliancy of colouring looks almost artificial.

In judging short-haired tabbies the markings count first, and these should not only be distinct, but the two sides of the cat's body should match in number, shape, and distinctness of marks. The face should be well marked up the forehead, continuing over the top of the head down the neck, and there should be distinct markings each side of the face, under the eyes, technically called the "cheek swirls," the chest also should be marked in circular stripes like necklaces, these being usually termed the "Lord Mayor's chains."

The eyes of tabbies are of great importance. In the reds, browns and blues they should be deep orange, and this rule formerly applied to the silver tabby, but I believe certain judges now equally approve of deep green in this variety.

There were, some years ago, a good many grey tabbies, but these have almost completely disappeared from the show bench, the silver tabby being so much more showy from the fact of the contrast between its pale silver ground and rich, velvety black markings.