HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 211 



In any of thefe good qualities, the feller was to forfeit to 

 the buyer the third part of its value — If any one mould 

 fteal or kill the 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 fufpended 

 by its tail (its head touching the floor), would form a 

 heap high enough to cover the tip of the former. 

 From hence we may conclude, that Cats were not ori- 

 ginally natives of thefe iflands ; and, from the great care 

 taken to improve and preferve the breed of this prolific 

 creature, we may fuppofe, were but little known at that 



period. Whatever credit we may allow to the cir- 



cumftances of the well-known ftory of Whittington and 

 his Cat, it is another proof of the great value fet upon 

 this animal in former times. 



