Concerning the Origin of Cats 



that time commonly used for trimming dresses. The 

 cat was, probably for that reason, an object of chase 

 in royal forests, and a license is still in existence 

 from Richard II to the Abbot of Peterborough, 

 and dated 1239, granting liberty to hunt cats. This 

 was probably the wild cat, however, which was not 

 the same as the domestic.^ 



1 These are among the laws supposedly enacted by Hoel Dha (How- 

 ell the Good) sometime between 915 and 948 A.D, 



The Vendotian Code XI. 



The worth of a cat and her teithi (qualities) this is : — 



1st. The worth of a kitten from the night it is kittened until it 

 shall open its eyes, is one penny. 



2d. And from that time until it shall kill mice, two pence. 



3d. And after it shall kill mice, four legal pence; and so it shall 

 always remain. 



4th, Her teithe are to see, to hear, to kill mice, and to have her 

 claws. 



This is the " Dimentian Code." XXXH. Of Cats. 



1st. The worth of a cat that is killed or stolen. Its head to be put 

 downward upon a clean, even floor, with its tail lifted upward and 

 thus suspended, whilst wheat is poured about it until the top of its tail 

 be covered and that is to be its worth. If the corn cannot be had, 

 then a milch sheep with a lamb and its wool is its value, if it be a cat 

 that guards the king's barn. 



2d. The worth of a common cat is four legal pence. 



3d. The teithi of a cat, and of every animal upon the milk of 

 which people do not feed, is the third part of its worth or the worth of 

 its litter. 



4th. Whosoever shall sell a cat (cath) is to answer that she devour 

 not her kittens, and that she have ears, teeth, eyes, and nails, and be a 

 good mouser. 



The " Gwentian Code " begins in the same way, but says : — 



3d. That it be perfect of ear, perfect of eye, perfect of teeth, per- 

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