Linda Mongno, age 9, of Newport News, Va., for her question:

Where did the manx cat originate?

The Isle of Man lies out in the Irish seas about 80 miles northwest of the English town of Liverpool. The hilly island was named long ago for the manx people who lived there. The manxmen of long ago spoke a language of their own and farmed their gentle hills and valleys. Not many visitors reached the lonely isle, and there, in bygone days, the manx cat originated and got his start.

Nowadays the isle of man is a busy vacation spot for visitors from england scotland and ireland. And the manx cat has a class of his own at the cat show. He is a tabby type puss with long legs. The tail end of his back is highest because his back legs are extra long. He bounds along like a bunny and runs faster and longer than other cats. But the true manx cat is born without a pussycat tail.