102 DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS. 



to cereal production exist, is it not very likely to arise from this cause? 

 The indefatigable gamekeeper, with his unerring aim, has nearly exter- 

 minated all the larger birds of prey, and the smaller, such as Magpies, 

 Jays, etc , are fast disappearing, whilst farmers wage war upon the remaining. 

 Nearly every village has its Sparrow club, offering prizes for the largest 

 number of heads; and we continually read of the hundreds produced at 

 their meetings. Thus the removal of natural checks by one interest gives rise 

 to unnatural remedies in the other, and the result is, extermination altogether. 



Among natural checks Mr. Round rightly classes Cats: it is for this 

 reason I denounce their undue increase by nurture and protection. If 

 "poor pussy," so much caressed, could be readily domesticated to the 

 useful purpose of a inouser in the house, it would be all very well; but 

 the order Felis, to which she belongs, admits not of such control. Pretty 

 and playful as the kitten is, maturity developes natural propensities, and 

 pussy soon enlarges her sphere of action. The saucer of milk and prepared 

 food do not satisfy the Cat; nor will she remain within to watch for 

 mice; pussy soon betakes herself to the garden, steals stealthily round the 

 borders, scratches and climbs the trees, basks in the sun, displays her attrac- 

 tions for others of her species, and hungry or not, is ever ready to pounce 

 upon every denizen of the air; nests are rifled, and all the pretty songsters 

 scared away. Thus are our suburban houses stripped of one of the greatest 

 charms that can attach to a residence in a village or near a town. 



Without entering upon the larger and difficult question, it may be 

 interesting to inquire if it be not possible to at least lessen the grievance; 

 and it appears to me the uses of our social economy supply reasons for 

 doing so; in referring to which I hope no offence. The subject might be 

 considered too trifling, but it really is mixed up with a great amount of 

 pleasurable enjoyment, and forms one of the links in the chain of our 

 terrestrial happiness. I would apologize for this explanation but from the 

 feeling that all subjects in Natural History admit of greater latitude in 

 discussion than other matters require. The physiological laws prevailing 

 through animal life and the influence of certain organs in the modification 

 of character are well understood, and enter practically largely into our 

 social economy; by their application the greater part of our meat is rendered 

 at all times nutritious, which would otherwise, at seasonal changes, be 

 unfit for food. In like manner, many of the animals used for draught 

 would be dangerous and unmanageable. Similar attention at an early 

 period with the Cat, would prevent the savage development of the feline 

 character, and improve its aptitude and sagacity as a mouser; and surely 

 there can be no shock to humanity in subjecting playful kittens to the 

 same process which the provident shepherd deals so extensively towards 

 frisking lambs. 



