192 MOSTLY MAMMALS 
domestic cat from the Egyptians by means of the Phoenician 
traders, as in the very earliest and rudest Etruscan tombs 
in the neighbourhood of Civeta Castellani (the contents 
of which are now in the Museum of Papa Giulio, near 
Rome) there are unmistakable traces of the Phoenician 
trade.” Without denying that such may have been the 
case, the discovery of the Mediterranean cat, as already 
mentioned, suggests the possibility of a European origin 
for the domesticated breed. On the other hand, the 
Mediterranean cat itself may prove to be merely a feral 
race derived from an Egyptian importation. 
Be this as it may—and the problem is one hardly 
capable of decisive solution—Dr. Nehring is of opinion 
that wild cats were originally brought under subjugation 
by stationary agricultural tribes, to whom it must have 
been of the utmost importance that their hoards of grain 
should be protected as much as possible from the ravages 
of rats and mice. 
When once a domesticated breed had become established 
in Europe, it would certainly have freely crossed with the 
wild cat. And it seems highly probable that to such 
crossing is due the great prevalence of “ tabbies” in Europe 
previous to the introduction of the now fashionable Persian 
breed, the wild cat having the dark stripes broader, and 
frequently more numerous, than they are in the Egyptian 
cat. 
As to the date of introduction of the domesticated cat 
into Britain, the earliest written evidence of its existence 
there occurs in the laws of the Welsh prince Howel 
Dhu, which were enacted about the middle of the tenth 
century. Certain remains of cats have, however, been dis- 
covered in Roman villas in this country, which appear to 
belong to the domesticated breed; and if these be rightly 
