DOMESTIC CATS. 1 63 



probable tnat the origin of the Manx Cats is due to the same 

 cause. At the present day, probably owing to crossing with 

 Cats introduced from the mainland, Cats with tails of all 

 lengths are to be met with in the Isle of Man. 



The Mombasa Cat, from the eastern coast of Africa, near 

 Zanzibar, is reported to have the fur short and stiff, instead of 

 the ordinary structure. 



Finally, we have the Paraguay Cat of South America, which 

 is but one-fourth the size of the ordinary domestic breed, and 

 is further characterised by its elongated body, and its covering of 

 short, shiny, and close-lying hair, more especially on the tail. 

 In the same continent there is stated to be another breed lack- 

 ing the discordant nocturnal cries which render the ordinary 

 Cat such an unmitigated nuisance in all parts of the world. 



With regard to the date of the introduction of Domestic 

 Cats into Europe, there is a considerable amount of uncer- 

 tainty ; and it has been considered that the so-called " Cat " of 

 the ancient Greeks was really the Marten. Be this as it may, 

 " there can be no question," writes Professor Mivart, " as to 

 the Cat having been domesticated in Europe before the 

 Christian era. There are signs that it was domesticated 

 amongst the people of the Bronze period, and the supposition 

 that it was first introduced into Western Europe by the Cru- 

 saders, is of course an altogether erroneous one. They may, 

 however, have introduced a distinct race, for if it be true that 

 our Domestic Cats have mainly descended from the Egyptian 

 Cat, it does not follow that blood from other sources may not 

 have mingled with that of the Egyptian breed. Pope Gregory 

 the Great, who lived towards the end of the sixth century, is 

 said to have had a pet Cat ; and Cats were often inmates of 

 nunneries during the Middle Ages. The great value set upon 

 the Cat at this period is shown by the laws which in Wales, 

 Switzerland, Saxony, and other European countries, imposed 



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