THE MURDEROUS CAT 215 



ciently rare to make important pictures, so, si- 

 lently and eagerly, Shan mislung his camera from 

 his shoulder. 



Closer and closer Shan stalked the white glint, 

 and, peering through the bushes, saw the Angora 

 cat. In its claws, fluttering, but unable to escape 

 because of a broken wing, was a Painted Bunting. 

 The cat would let it go, allow it to flutter a foot or 

 two and then would spring upon the bird again, as 

 though playing with a mouse. Had Shan a gun 

 with him, he would have shot without an instant's 

 hesitation, remembering his legal right to kill the 

 cat, inasmuch as it was far from any dwelling, 

 was not on private property, was engaged in de- 

 struction and was classed as a dangerous beast 

 of prey unprotected by game laws. 



Every stray cat, found in the woods more than 

 a quarter of a mile away from the boundary of an 

 incorporated town or village and the same dis- 

 tance from a house is not regarded as engaged in 

 its legitimate occupation of ratter or mouser. 

 Not being indigenous to America, it cannot be con- 

 sidered as a native animal. If discovered killing 

 birds, it is destroying the property of the United 

 States. 



Shan, as a resident, and therefore not need- 



