Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-26
SIAMESE CATS.
New Species of Blue Blood and Rare
Beauty,

New Species of Blue Blood md Rare
Beauty.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
The Prince Of Orleans. during his last
visit to Siam, was very graciously received
by the king. In exchanging the parting
courteses the Siamese ruler, as a special
token of the high regard in which he held
the prince, gave him three superb speci-
mems of the royal Siam cats A man who
had always seen to the wants of these aris-
tocratic felnes was detailed to accompany
the gift to France As soon as they ar
rived in Paris the prince gave the precious
cats in charge of NJ. Milne-Edwards, su-
perintendent of this department in Jardn
des Plantes. They have been installed IN
very commodious quarters, and are taking
kindly to their change of home. There has
been an addition to the family since its ar
rival, and very respectable sum has been
offered for the kittens. which, however, are
not for sale.
They are really extremely handsome spec
linens of the cat tribe, being of very pure
blood. Their pedigree, which. unfortu-
nately, Is written in S.amese. is terrifi-
cally long one. In appearance these royal
cats look somewhat different from the ordi-
nary plebe!an ones. Their bodies are
little more elongated, not having that ten
dency to roundness SO noticeable in the Or
binary house cat. An awkward cat is an
impossibility, and the royal kiki Is the very
ideal of graceful movement. They seem to
be particularly strong in bone and muscle,
which gives them the appearance of a
pocket edition of curiously colored tigers.
The family of these cats is a striking
ample of what good breeding will accom-
p1ish. All of them are exactly alike. ex-
cept that the females are a little larger
than the males. They are beautiful in
color, being of a silvery fawn in the body,
and having their masks or faces of a
glossy dark chocolate shade. The tips of
their tails the ears and feet are also this
color, which gives them a decidedly ariSto-
cratic appearance Their eyes are in very
striking contrast to those of our domest-
Gated animal. being of a dark blue color.
The pupils are jet black, but susceptible to
the most violent changes, according to the
humor of the animal Sometimes the pupil
looks like superb amethyst, and then,
again. 1t takes the hue of fiery carbuncle
They seem to be of a much more gentle
and Sociable disposition than is generally
found among the cat tribe. They rarely
ever use their claws teeth against any
body, unless greatly irritated or frightened.
sense of the word. No matter how much
the Persian and other species of their kind
endeavor to obtain social recognition from
the royal Siamese, they always receive a
most unmiStakable Snub instead. If a we'll
dressed visitor. be it gentleman or lady,
comes up to their cage they are always
sraciously received by these cat snobs. but
should a person approach whose attire is
not up to their standard they make furious
efforts to scratch such a presumptuous in
dividual.
The cats have not as vet become thor
oughly acclimated, and are very susceptible
10 colds. That they are expensive pets
there can be no doubt, from 1000 to
5000 francs has been offered and refused
for some of the kitties.