242 THE EGYPTIAN CAT. 



" In order to obtain further elucidation with respect 

 to the Felis maniculata, as the original type of the 

 Egyptian domestic cat, we have enjoined our travel- 

 lers, busied with zoological researches in Egypt, to 

 send us all such varieties of the domestic cat as may 

 be found in Northern Africa, trusting that a compa- 

 rative examination of them may lead to some farther 

 results. We have felt the more inclined to do so, 

 from some accounts of M. Ruppcl, that among the 

 animals he saw in Kordostan, he discovered a new 

 small species of this genus." 



M. Temminck is also of the same opinion with 

 M. Ruppei, that this is the type or stock from which 

 our domestic cat has sprung. The opinion generally 

 accepted before this, by most naturalists, was, that 

 the wild cat of Europe was the original stock ; but 

 although, since the introduction of our house cat to 

 this country, there may have been an accidental 

 cross with the wild native species, an attentive exa- 

 mination of the greater numbers will at once shew 

 a very different form than that exhibited by the wild 

 cat ; the most prominent distinctions are the shortness 

 of the legs, and shortness and thickness of the tail. 



The domestic cat is the only one of this race which 

 has been generally used in the economy of man. 

 Some of the other small species have snewn that 

 they might be applied to similar purposes ; and we 

 have een that the general disposition of this family 

 will not prevent their training. Much pains would 

 have been necessary to effect this, and none of the 



