112 BRITISH BIRDS. 



close. The Prussian was attempting by his own skill to 

 please the company, when a large black cat, which had 

 been long on the watch, sprang unobserved from a cor- 

 ner on the poor bird, seized it in its mouth, and rushed 

 out of the room notwithstanding all opposition. Pursuit 

 was immediate, but in vain : the Prussian brought into 

 the room the mangled body of his poor canary, with 

 looks and words of most poignant distress. 



