The Domestic Cat is found wherever civilised man exists. It occurs throughout Europe and Asia, and has spread largely in America and Australia since the discovery of these continents by Europeans. The best-marked variety of the species is the beautiful Angora Cat, which is larger than the ordinary Cat, and covered with long fine hair, usually snow-white. The Manx Cat, native only in the Isle of Man, is distinguished by the very remarkable character of being tailless, or, at least, that appendage is quite rudimentary. In other respects, it does not differ from the ordinary varieties. The Persian Cat is a very fine variety often seen in English drawing-rooms; its hair is long, though nothing like so long as that of the Angora. It is a remarkably lazy beast, and far less interesting than the ordinary kind. The Chinese Cat has also long silky fur and pendent ears, and is regularly fattened and eaten. Mr. Swinhoe gives a curious quotation about this animal from the _Hainan Gazetteer_. “‘_Lino_’ (or _Domestic Cat_) ‘cannot endure Fleas or Lice on its skin. Cats that have nine holes inside the mouth will catch Rats the four seasons through.’” What the Chinese _Gazetteer_ means by the _nine holes_ is difficult to imagine. Is it not a celestial piece of hyperbole for a Cat with a good large gullet?--just as we speak of their tenacity of life by saying that they have _nine lives_--thus our Cat has nine lives, and the Chinese Rat-catcher has _nine throats_. CHAPTER V. CAT FAMILY--HYÆNA FAMILY--CRYPTOPROCTA FAMILY--AARD-WOLF FAMILY. THE COMMON JUNGLE CAT--THE COMMON LYNX--Historical Sketch--Geographical Distribution--Distinctive Characters--Habits--Uses--THE PARDINE LYNX--THE CANADIAN LYNX--THE RED LYNX--THE CARACAL--THE CHEETAH--Distinctive Characters--Geographical Distribution--Employment in Hunting--THE HYÆNA FAMILY--External Characters--Skull and Teeth--THE SPOTTED HYÆNA--Geographical Distribution--Habits--Laughing Propensities--THE BROWN HYÆNA--THE STRIPED HYÆNA--THE CRYPTOPROCTA FAMILY--Characteristics of the CRYPTOPROCTA--Its Occurrence and Habits--THE AARD-WOLF FAMILY--Characters and Habits of the AARD-WOLF. THE COMMON JUNGLE CAT.[52]