AMERIOAN ORNITHOLOGY. 173 



particular nest. A few days later a young Robin from another nest 

 made his first flight and landed in the drive-way only to find itself in the 

 grasp of Tommy, who paused to look up and see if there were not more 

 coming. During this pause the little bird was rescued but it was too 

 badly injured to survive. 



Now the cat was not to blame; it was its nature, as it is that of every 

 other cat. A cat is a carnivorous animal endowed with the strength, 

 skill and agility to secure its own prey, and no matter how much they 

 may be trained, when the opportunity occurs they will jump at it. I 

 am not condemning cats; they make very congenial pets, and it is not 

 because I do not like them that I do not own one. But until a clawless 

 and toothless breed of cats are introduced they will not mix with birds, 

 that is, ard still have the birds alive. It is little short of luring birds 

 to their death to put up houses for them and still keep our feline friends. 



TAMING OF A YOUNG COW.BIRD. 



The more one studies bird life in the field and learns how individual 

 birds will at times depart from the habits of their families, the more 

 fascinating the study becomes. 



When I heard of the taming of a young Cow-bird I must confess to 

 some doubts on the subject until I had seen it several times snd knew 

 its history. About June first while Mr. Saunders was feeding some 

 small chickens, a chipping sparrow followed by a fluttering, crying Cow- 

 bird, which had plainly taken the place of the rightful inmates of the 

 sparrow's nest, flew into the yard and began to feed with the chickens. 



After coming together for a few days at feeding time, the Cow-bird, 

 evidently deserted by his foster mother, came alone and finally made 

 his home between the chicken's yard and the back door steps. 



The bird; which Mr. Saunders named " Dick," would follow him or 

 Baby Helen about the place, and it was a pretty sight to see Helen tod- 

 dling aftea the bird, which v^^ould keep just out of reach, or if she turn- 

 ed, to see the bird following close at her heels. When " Dick" first 

 came to the yard he would chase flies and mosquitoes, but soon showed 

 a preference for meal and bread crumbs, which he ate greedily, becom- 

 ing a decided vegetarian in his tastes. 



After the chicken food was mixed, " Dick" in his eagerness would 

 get into the pan, and I have often seen him feeding from one side of 



