xviii INTRODUCTORY 



black tip. Its eyes are large and full, and of a 

 yellowish grey tint. The throat, chin and under- 

 part of the belly are white, as also the toes. The 

 whiskers are longer and stiffer than in the tame 

 variety, whilst the claws are grey. Markings re- 

 semble those of the domestic cat. The female is 

 smaller than the male and lighter in colour. It 

 preys on other animals and is fierce in its nature ; 

 makes a nest in the hollow of a tree as a rule. 

 The distribution of the cat in a domesticated con- 

 dition is exceedingly extensive its extreme utility 

 in destroying vermin being the reason for this. 



The Greeks seem to have used an animal for 

 mousing purposes, but it is probable that this, /'. e. 

 the "ailuros," was the marten and not the cat. 

 This, however, is not absolutely certain. We find 

 no traces whatever of the domestic cat in the ruins 

 of Pompeii and Herculaneum, though it is quite 

 possible it was there when established. Certainly 

 it came under control previous to the Christian 

 era. 



In the Middle Ages it was very much thought 

 of, and laws and stringent regulations passed 

 against its injury or destruction. Roman literature 

 attests the very great care with which it was 

 preserved. When rats and mice began to infest the 

 human habitations of Northern Africa Morocco, 

 for instance, and countries bordering the Mediter- 

 ranean it became an invaluable ally to man, and 



