The Audubon Societies 123 



a house pet lapses so (luickK to the wild lluil it can never l)e said that it lias 

 become perfectly domesticated. 



Allowing for facts — the cat as a rodent catcher, and for >(.-ntinient — the com- 

 fortabledooking 'llreside sphinx,' much can-be done in the cat ([ueslion williDiit 

 interferinLi; willi ])u»yV real or fancied usefulness. 



First, tlie destruction by local law of ownerless cats, or cats whose owners 

 decline the responsibility of feeding them. 



Second, the confinement of pet cats during the lime between Ma}- i and July i, 

 in large and comfortable cages made of slats and wire, like covered chicken runs. 

 In fact I know of one clever man who constructed such a run at one side of his 

 strawberrv bed, thus protecting his crop from the Roijins and Catbirds, and 

 their young from tlie cat, at one blow. 



Of course, this caging takes thought and involves considerable extra trouble; 

 and there are a lot of us w'ho mean well and wish the birds well, but it begins and 

 ends there, for many places besides the one originally mentioned in the ])roverb 

 are paved with good intentions I 



After the nesting season is over, the cat may be released, and the adult birds 

 can take their chances. Mind yt)u, I say the cat, not three cats, their kittens, 

 and a few more that an irresponsible neighbor has left on your stoop, because she 

 was 'too sensitive' to have them drowned, and she knew \-ou to be tender- 

 hearted. 



Moderation is always a virtue, but moderation in cats may be regarded as 

 patriotism, as the domestic cat is really an alien who can never be truly naturalized. 



—M. O. W. 



" On the home grounds from seventy-five to a hundred nests were built 

 every spring, and the broods therein successfully reared for the birds were care- 

 fully protected. Cats, Hawks, Crow'S, Jays and snakes were summarily dealt 

 with ; every note of alarm was promptly answered with an efficient rescue, and 

 all the spring and early summer the air was filled with the melody of happy 



^' — Mixot's Land .and G.\me Birds or New Engl.\xd, 



Edited by \Vm. Brewster 



John Burroughs says that cats probably destroy more birds than all other 

 animals combined. 



"We have already introduced into this country a terrible scourge to birds — 

 the domestic cat. My statement heretofore published, that the mature cat, in 

 good hunting grounds, kills on an average, fifty birds a year, is certainly within 

 bounds." —Edward Howe Forbush. ' 



