i66 THE WILD CAT OF BRITAIN. 



state. Some were very curious, such as a skulk of foxes, a 

 cete of badgers, a huske or down of hares, a ;?^j-/ of rabbits, 

 and a clowder of cats, and a kindle of yoimg cats. Now cats 

 are said to kitte7i, and rabbits kindle. 



The following shows the value of the cat nearly a thousand 

 years ago ; it is to be found in Bewick's " Quadrupeds " : 

 '' In the time of Hoel the Good, King of Wales, who died 

 in the year 948, laws were made as well to preserve as to 

 fix the different prices of animals ; among which the cat is 

 included, as being at that period of great importance, on 

 account of its scarcity and utility. 



"The price of a kitten, before it could see, was fixed at 

 one penny; till proof could be given of its having caught a 

 mouse, twopence ; after which it was rated at fourpence, 

 which was a great sum in those days, when the value of 

 specie was extremely high. It was likewise required that it 

 should be perfect in its sense of hearing and seeing, should 

 be a good mouser, have its claws whole, and, if a female, be 

 a careful nurse. If it failed in any of these good qualities, 

 the seller was to forfeit to the buyer a third part of its 

 value. If any one should steal or kill a cat that guarded 

 the Prince's granary, he was either to forfeit a milch ewe, 

 her fleece and lamb, or as much wheat as when poured on 

 the cat suspended by its feet (its head touching the floor), 

 would form a heap high enough to cover the tip of the 

 former." Bewick remarks : " Hence we may conclude that 

 cats were not originally natives of these islands, and from 

 the great care taken to improve the breed of this prolific 

 creature, we may suppose were but little known at that 

 period." 



I scarcely think this the right conclusion, the English 

 wild cat being anatomically different. In Hone's popular 

 works it is stated that " Cats are supposed to have been 

 brought into England from the island of Cyprus by some 

 foreign merchants, who came hither for tin." Mr. Hone 

 further says : " Wild cats were kept by our ancient kings 

 for hunting. The officers who had charge of these cats 

 seem to have had appointments of equal consequence 



