The Audubon Societies 



167 



birds killed in a day by one cat. This 

 runs from one to twelve. Many of the 

 reporters live in towns and cities where 

 fewer cats are kept per family than in 

 the country. Out of 427 reporting, only 

 99 keep cats personally, and their observa- 

 tions are based on their former experi- 

 ences with their own cats, or on observing 

 neighbors' cats or strays; the 99 keep 132, 

 or an average of 1.3 to each family. The 

 number of cats kept by families in the 

 neighborhood are reported by 272 people. 

 These statements show 1.4 cats per 

 family. There are 331 who say that cats 

 are allowed to roam at night. Reports of 

 one day's kill of 226 cats sum up 624 

 birds; reports of one week's kill of 32 

 cats, 239 birds; one month's kill of 15 

 cats, 307 birds; and one year's kill of 47 

 cats, 534 birds. This means an average 

 of 2.7 birds per day, 7.9 per week, 20.4 

 per month and 11.3 per year. The j^early 

 average is brought down because only a 

 few persons have tried to keep account of 

 the birds killed by destructive cats for a 

 year, while others, whose cats have been 

 "taught not to kill birds," report that 

 their cats have killed only one, two, or 

 three, in a year. On the other hand, in 

 several cases, cats have been known to 

 kill "nearly fifty," or more than fifty, 

 in a year. 



The killing of many chickens is reported, 

 and seventeen observers assert that full- 

 grown domestic fowls have been killed. 

 Much interesting information is given 

 about the destruction of mice, rats, moles, 

 shrews, bats, frogs, toads, and other 



.■\ cat on the farm ot Mr. Forbush, carefully 

 taught from kittenhood not to kill birds. Later it 

 was found killing them on the sly. The picture 

 shows a dead Warbler tied to the cat's neck to 

 break her of the habft, but she clawed it off and 

 ate it. 



animals. Any notes on any subject con- 

 nected with the cat will be gratefully 

 appreciated if sent to the writer of this 

 article at Room 136, State House, Boston, 

 Massachusetts. 



A GOOD MISSIONARY 



If you could only see and know how 

 many little folk in Belmont School are 

 full of love for the birds you would be 

 pleased, I am sure. Although, as far as 

 money goes, the children are poor, they 

 are rich in love; and it is a great pleasure 

 to teach them to love the beautiful, or 

 rather to make them conscious of the fact, 

 for I am sure the love was already in their 

 hearts waiting to be awakened. I talk 

 to them every day, now, about the birds, 

 and show them nests that I have brought 

 from my home in the country, and pic- 

 tures, and I believe every little soul in my 

 grade — there are sixty-seven pupils — will 

 be ready to welcome the birds in the 



springtime, and try to protect them. 

 Sometimes I go into other rooms and talk 

 for a while about the birds, and the chil- 

 dren are so much interested. Often they 

 come into my room after school to ask 

 questions, and to see the nests we have 

 there. We have a thousand and ten 

 children in our school, and I'd just love 

 to have them everyone join our Audubon 

 Society. They come from homes where 

 the parents find it hard to supply the 

 necessities of life, so I do not urge them 

 to bring ten cents for membership, but 

 I do try, and shall continue to do so, to 

 teach them to care for the birds. — - 

 Sallie J. EwiNG, Roanoke, Virginia. 



