The PERSIAN CAT.
In our deſcription of the Angora Goat, we had occaſion to remark the influence of climate upon the hair or fur of animals; to which we ſhall now add Mr. Buffon’s obſervations on that phenomenon. "In general we may obſerve,” he ſays, "that of all the climates of the habitable world, thoſe of Spain and Syria conduce the moſt favourably to this agreeable change of nature. Sheep, goats, dogs, cats, rabbits, &c. both in Syria and in Spain, have the fineſt wool, the handſomeſt and longeſt hair, with colours the moſt varied and agreeable; it ſeems as if Nature here meliorated and embelliſhed the form of her animals. The wild cat of a harſh colour and a rough ſkin, when domeſticated, acquires a ſoft ſkin of various colours; but in the favourable climate of Chorazin and Syria, the hair becomes longer, finer, thicker, and the colours uniformly more agreeable; the black and the red mingle to an agreeable brown, and the dark grizzle becomes a pleaſant grey. In comparing the wild cat with the domeſtic, we diſcover no difference, but in the variation of colour. This beautiful appearance will not long ſurvive the change of climate; after the firſt generation, they no longer attract the eye with ſplendour, or invite the touch with, ſoftneſs.”
The Perſian, or Angora Cats, here repreſented, were brought from the country whence they have their name, and were in fine health and condition when this drawing was made.
The hair was three or four inches long, of a fine milky whiteneſs; the eyes a lively blue; the hair on the neck longer than on the body, and the tail was buſhy; for the reſt they reſemble our common cats, only appearing rather larger, on account of the greater length of the fur; they poſſeſſed the ſame habits, and were alike playful and inſidious: we have every reaſon to believe they were entirely deaf. They are now at Mr. Brook’s Menagerie, London.
