273 



COLLECTANEA. 



Art. I. Zoology. 



The Domestic Cat catching Swallows on the Wing. — Sir, In 

 p. 84. an allusion is made to the capture of swallows by cats. 

 The following instance, which I witnessed, is not only an indis- 

 putable confirmation of the fact, but exhibits in a still stronger 

 degree the calculating instinct, if I may so express myself, of 

 certain animals in the pursuit of prey. A few years ago, 

 when walking up a narrowish street in the town of St. Helier, 

 in the Island of Jersey, during the month of August, I observed, 

 far ahead, a swift (^irundo Jf pus) darting towards me, about a 

 foot or two above the ground, uttering, as usual, its well-known 

 screaming note. I had scarcely observed it on the wing, be- 

 fore its rapid flight brought it close to the pavement where I 

 stood, when, at the instant of its passing, I was surprised by 

 a sudden and somewhat smartish blow on my feet. On look- 

 ing down, to ascertain the cause, I was not a little astonished 

 to find it proceeded from a cat, which I had previously noticed 

 sitting, apparently dosing, at a gateway on the opposite side of 

 the street. She, however, had seen the descending bird, and 

 so nicely calculated her pounce, as to impinge upon her vic- 

 tim with unerring certainty ; for the unfortunate bird, after a 

 momentary struggle, was secured in her mouth, and carried 

 off in triumph into a house. Struck with the singular incident, 

 I also entered, and mentioned to a woman who was within 

 the active feat of her cat. In reply, she assured me that such 

 captures were by no means new to her, scarcely a day pass- 

 ing without similar attempts on the part of her favourite, and 

 frequently with the success I had just witnessed. — E. S. 



I once saw two martins (^irundo urbica) buffeting each 

 other on the wing, near the ground, opposite the paling of a 

 cottage garden, from under which an observant cat rushed 

 out upon them, captured one of them, and bore it back to the 

 garden in triumph. The birds were buffeting each other at the 

 distance of six yards from the paling whence the cat emerged ; 

 but so rancorous was their conflict, that they could perceive 

 only each other. Myself and a companion were within a few 

 yards of them. — J. D. 



The Domestic Cat springing at Swallows, and other Feats 

 liy it. — Sir, At p. 84., J. D. describes with great truth and 

 Vol. v. — No. 23. t 



