Washington has come to the fore of late, but has not within her borders many regular breeders outside of Mrs.

Hazen Bond, who exhibited with a good deal of success during the season of 19011902, and Miss Eleanor Burritt, who most successfully brought to a termination a good show in Washington in December, 1902; and this will, no doubt, be followed by others in years to come.

Brushwood Cattery (Photo: F. Schnabel, Chicago.)

Our travels in search of cats do not take us very far south, for in these regions the fleas alone make the rearing of cats in anything like numbers an impossibility. Mrs. B. M. Gladding most pluckily tried it at Memphis, Tennessee, but has been obliged to give it up, though she was one of our most promising cat lovers.

The Connecticut cats bid fair to be quite a factor in the American race for prominence in catty matters, and within the borders of Connecticut we have to record a few breeders. In 1903 we have a show at Stamford, Connecticut, which is an important place, and where the show now begun might assume quite extensive proportions; for at Stamford are many large country houses, and it is a centre that can well afford to have the best of everything.

Connecticut has within her borders the possibilities of future greatness, and is at present emerging from comparative obscurity, though always having had some good fanciers. Miss Lucy Nicholls was, for a time, perhaps one of the best, known, but she died in the spring of 1902. Dr. Frank Abbott is stirring up the fanciers of Connecticut, and a little while from now there would probably be a good deal more to say about this region, which holds such breeders as Mrs. Copperberg, Miss Anna Marks, Mrs. Ida Palmer, and others.

Miss L. C. Johnston's " Persimmon Squirrel." (Photo: Fixity, Chicago.)

I leave the Maine and the northern division to Mrs. Pierce, who was born there, and has known this region and its history for many years, and who can cover it so much better.

Mrs. M. B. Thurston was much missed as an exhibitor, as for a time she was very successful, but more with cats she bought than with cats she bred.

Miss K. L. Gage, of Brewster's, New York, is not now so prominent as of yore, but still for a time was energetic in disseminating good cats, and was the owner of the silver tabby "Whychwood," who bids fair to leave a name behind him.

The New York show of 1903 revealed to us that we are making steady progress in long-haired silvers, and the probability is that at the present time, if we could make up a team of four or five of our best and take them to England, we should give a good account of ourselves.

At this show the blacks, thanks to recent importations, were much better than heretofore; and Miss Hurlburt's "Eddie Fawe," Dr. Ottolengui's "Sir Robert" - a previous winner at the Palace - and Miss Lincoln's "Jack Fawe" made a trio that we may be proud of.

The blues were a decided improvement on last year, and so were the whites ; and Miss Pollard had "Purity" and the blue-eyed "Fairy" put down in splendid shape, and won well.

Orange cats are always pretty popular in America, and are, owing to Miss Ward and Mrs. Copperberg, coming well up to the front.

In the silvers Mrs. Champion's " Argent Moonbeam II." carried all before him in males, and Mrs. Conlisk took first in queens with "Silver Belle" - a big one and a good one. The "Blessed Damozel" is perhaps our best queen, and there is really nothing to beat her in the female division ; but she was not put down for competition, as her owner does not approve of a four days' show. Mrs. Mallorie had a big strong silver - "Silver Glen" - second to "Argent Moonbeam II." The silver tabbies are coming along well, and so are the smokes, and one - "TheDusky Pilgrim," a son of " The Passionate Pilgrim," who has been altered - was sold for £50. "The Passionate Pilgrim," a very light and massively built cat, promises to be a great loss to breeders, as he is an almost complete out cross, but he has left severa good kittens. Mrs. Mix, who was judging, brought out some beautiful silvers, and her home-bred "Jack Frost" was a notable cat.

"Arlington Hercules," the brown tabby, made his first appearance in New York, and was very much admired. Prices ran high for good cats, especially smokes and silvers, as these are new to Americans. The blue colour they are more familiar with from the long acquaintance with the short-haired blues or Maltese; but there is no denying the fact that the blues are always dangerous when it comes to judging for specials, for in their all-round quality they show the care that has been bestowed upon them in England.

Old "Tortie Diana Fawe" is still our best tortoiseshell, without much apparent chance of being deposed.

Mr. H. T. Draper - an old Londoner, who has exhibited short-hairs steadily since 1895 - is still with us, and taking prizes as before ; he has been a very steady supporter of the short-hairs for years.