THE ARRANGEMENTS OF PROVIDENCE. 163 



shop, you will see the mark of the puncture 

 under the dorsal fin. 



If a cat gets into a wood or prowls along 

 hedge-rows, jays, magpies, blackbirds, &c., give 

 warning of his presence by loud cries, thus 

 making other birds aware that an enemy is near 

 and is to be avoided. Birds, also, that assemble 

 in large flocks, will place a sentinel on a high 

 tree, while their companions are feeding below, 

 to give notice of approaching danger. 



The methods some birds will take for the 

 preservation of their young are very interesting. 

 Partridges and plovers will put on the semblance 

 of being wounded, and flutter along the ground 

 just before an intruder on their young till 

 he has been drawn away from their haunt, 

 the intruder thinking, probably, that he shall 

 be able to capture the apparently wounded 

 bird. 



I have seen a cat on the top of a wall close to 

 the nest of blackbirds with young ones in it. 

 The old birds have flown against the cat with all 

 their might, uttering loud screams of fear at the 

 same time, until they have driven her away. 

 It is impossible not to admire these instincts, 



