240 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



known dog catchers to do. As to cats 

 confiscated, my suggestion would be to 

 destroy all unhealthy cats, females, and 

 young kittens, but to have the health} 

 males "altered" and disposed of at low 

 prices to help defray expenses. 



WE LAX NOT AFFORD TO EXTERMINATE 



The cat. He is of great practical value 

 to the housekeeper, the farmer, the busi- 

 ness man whose warerooms are subject to 

 the depredations of rats and mice ; when 

 cared for his beauty is as great as that 

 of any other of nature's children ; and 

 no person who is not a cat lover 

 can form any idea of how companion- 

 able a cat is, or what an excellent pet 

 it makes for those who cannot properly 

 exercise or take care of a dog. 



1 write without prejudice, as a lover 

 of all animals, including the birds. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Jane R. Cathcart. 



A Rattlesnake on a Ledge. 



Singer's Glen, Virginia. 

 To the Editor : 



I am sending you two pictures of a 

 rattlesnake, in the hope that they may 

 interest you and, if you use them in 

 The Guide to Nature, may interest 

 your readers. 



The picture of the snake on the ledge 

 was taken while the snake was appar- 

 ently asleep, as it showed no signs of 

 life until it was aroused by being hit 

 with small gravelstones. 



It rattled continually, but showed no 

 disposition to fight or coil, but tried 

 to escape among the rocks when struck 

 the second time. 



The second picture (of the flat 

 stone) was taken after the snake's 



back had been broken just behind its 

 lgth was three feet and 

 It had seven rattles and 



Harry S taffy. 



head. Its length was three feet and 

 two inches 

 a button. 



A Suggestion as to the Bluebirds* 

 Curious Flight. 



Secane, Pennsylvania. 

 To the Editor : 



Your note in the August Thf Guide To 

 Nature entitled "Astonishing Perfor- 

 mance of a Bluebird" records that 

 which by no means is astonishing, ex- 

 cept to you at the moment, no doubt; 

 it was merely coincidental. A very 

 similar occurrence not many years ago 

 was witnessed by myself, the bird be- 

 ing a crested flycatcher. 1 was going- 

 through the woods with a friend for 

 whom I was identifying the birds one 

 June day and from a low limb the 

 raucous yet not altogether disuleasing 

 note of the big flycatcher was given. 

 We looked up and I had no sooner 

 given the name of the species than 

 with a swoop the bird descended 

 straight at my companion as if it quite 

 intended hitting him in the face ; indeed 

 it almost did this, coming within a 

 couple of feet of him and then darting 

 to one side and away. At the same 

 instant 1 heard the snap of its bill and 

 recognized the cause of this seemingly 

 strange action. We had observed the 

 bird only and not the swift-winged, 

 perhaps small insect that it was pur- 

 suing, probably a gnat or muscid tly. 

 !n the bird's eagerness it disregarded 

 the fear of man or, relying on the 

 power of its wings, meant to get that 



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TWO PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF THE RATTLESNAKE. 



