THE CAFFRE, OR EGYPTIAN CAT 425 



The caff re cat is about the size of a large domestic cat, and is generally of a 

 yellowish color (becoming more or less gray in some specimens), darker on the 

 back, and paler on the under parts. The body is marked with faint, pale stripes, 

 which assume, however, on the limbs, the form of distinct dark horizontal bands ; 

 and the tail, which is relatively long, is also more or less distinctly ringed towards 

 its tip, which is completely black. The sides of the face are marked by two hori- 

 zontal streaks. Very generally the soles of the hind-feet in this cat are black, 

 although in the paler-colored varieties this part is not darker than the back. 



The caff re cat has a wide distribution, being found throughout Africa, from 

 the Cape to Algiers and Egypt, and also extending into Southwestern Asia in 

 Syria and Arabia. In past times it also ranged into Southeastern Europe ; its 

 fossilized remains having been obtained from the caverns of the rock of Gibral- 

 tar, in company with those of several extinct species of Mammals. At the period 

 when the caffre cat lived in Gibraltar, Spain was doubtless connected by land with 

 Africa. These cats, as is well-known, were held sacred by the ancient Egyptians, 

 and enormous numbers of their bodies were embalmed and preserved in tombs and 

 pits ; the largest repositories being found in the cities of Bubastis and Beni-Hassan. 

 The cats found in the tombs of the two localities mentioned are regarded by Pro- 

 fessor Virchow, who has devoted much study and attention to. this subject, merely 

 as tamed individuals of the wild caffre cat, and having no sort of relationship with 

 the domestic cat ; the origin of which, it is considered, is to be sought in Europe or 

 Asia. On the other hand, Dr. A. Nehring,* of Berlin, whose opinion is entitled to 

 much weight, considers that the black sole of the hind-foot, common to the caffre 

 cat and the domestic cat of Europe, is indicative of the descent of the latter from 

 the former, although it is quite probable that there may be also a strain of Asiatic 

 blood in our cats. And much the same opinion is entertained by Professor Mivart. 

 In this connection it is important to notice that in South Africa it has been ascer- 

 tained that the domestic cat will breed freely with the caffre cat. On the other hand, 

 as we have already had occasion to mention, there are several species of Asiatic cats, 

 such as the leopard-cat and the rusty-spotted cat, together with others referred 

 to below, which will cross readily with the domestic cat of India. It is, how- 

 ever, quite possible that this may not affect the origin of the European cat, since 

 Dr. Nehring is of opinion that the domestic cat of the Chinese has an exclusively 

 Asiatic descent, and is thus quite distinct from that of Europe ; while Mr. Blanford 

 suggests an Indian origin for the domestic cats of that country. 



Darwin considered that the origin of the domestic cat could not be determined 

 with certainty ; and concluded by remarking that whether domestic cats have 

 descended from several distinct species, or have only been modified by occasional 

 crosses, their fertility, so far as is known, is unimpaired. 



That the ancient Egyptians had succeeded in taming thoroughly the cats of 

 which the mummified bodies are found in such numbers at Bubastis and Beni- 

 Hassan, is perfectly well ascertained. This is indeed demonstrated by a painting in 



*This writer considers that there are two species of the Egyptian cat, vix., F. caffra (or maniculata), and 

 F. caligata. 



