254 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



to feed, unless we give them protection from 

 enemies and from annoyance. Cats, jays and 

 crows must be kept from trespassing. 



Few of us have any proper ideas of how to 

 train and keep a pussy. Cats can be trained so 

 as to be quite as respectful to birds as to young 

 chickens, if the same, or a little greater, trouble 

 is taken. Most cats grow up perfectly obedient 

 to natural instincts, and with no sense of obe- 

 dience to human beings. Few persons probably 

 take the trouble to educate the family kitten. 

 But all may, with a little effort, subject the cat 

 to a course of discipline every year which will 

 be wholesome for the cat, and will save the lives 

 of scores of birds, old and young. 



An unrestrained cat is as senseless in bird- 

 time as an unrestrained horse or cow would be 

 amongst growing crops. In these days of cheap 

 poultry wire, a commodious cage may easily be 

 made, in which pussy should pass her nights 

 and such part of the days, during the nesting- 

 season, as she cannot be watched. If well fed, 

 the cat will not be unhappy, and she will be a 

 more civilized member of the family for such 

 temporary and kindly restraint. Wild, vaga- 



