THIS MOUSE IS INVESTIGATING OUR PHOTOGRAPHER'S FLASH-LIGHT APPARATUS.
A first visit to a famous collection is likely to occasion considerable surprise to those who are only familiar with the white and pink-eyed variety and the common little grey-backed member of the household.
During the last two or three years various fanciers have been industriously endeavouring to improve the breed, and they have succeeded in producing the most beautiful specimens. The show mouse is larger than the common household specimen. The eye is much larger and fuller, and the coat would not disgrace a thoroughbred racer. But the chief points are colour and marking. These are simply wonderful. The self colours include not only black and white, but almost every shade between. The black specimens have rich silky coats. The white to be at all valuable must possess black eyes. The pink eye has been eliminated altogether.
(1) MOUSE CHALLENGE CUP. (2) A MOUSE WITH TWO TAILS. (3) HOW A LADY FANCIER FEEDS HER PETS, AND (4) HOW SHE PLAYS WITH THEM.
Sables exist in every possible shade, and some of them are of the richest and most beautiful quality. Silver grey is a fashionable colour this year, and I have seen some very perfect specimens with bluish-grey coats.
The marked mouse is a most popular fancy, and no wonder, for in this department the most wonderful results have been obtained, as our illustrations prove.
At the present moment a well-known lady fancier is striving to obtain a Dalmatian mouse. She has already a most wonderfully spotted specimen, and hopes before long to show a perfect example.
Apart from their great beauty, fancy mice pay, and pay well. At the National Mouse Show I was shown several specimens worth £5 apiece, and as much as £20 has been given for a champion. The two mice in our picture of judging are both £5 animals.