i 44 DOG STORIES 



the hen he had previously robbed. He 

 and the chicken afterwards were frequently 

 observed leaving the orchard together, and 

 travelling through the courtyard and back 

 passages, find their way to the kitchen 

 fireplace, where they would sleep in good 

 fellowship. This chicken, I discovered, had 

 been stolen nearly two miles away. It is 

 important to remark that the cat, though 

 a cruel bird-killer, never touched another 

 chicken. Was the idea of compensation in 

 the cat's mind? If not that, all the circum- 

 stances are singularly coincident. And why 

 did the chicken prefer the cat's companion- 

 ship to that of its fellows? 



E. W. PHIBBS. 



ANOTHER PIGEON STORY. 



[Oct. 6, 1888.] 



MR. AINGER'S letter in the Spectator of 

 September 22nd reminds me of an almost 

 identical friendship that existed some years 

 ago at Grove House, Knutsford. A long- 

 haired mastiff was kept chained as a watch- 

 dog, and when a white fantail pigeon's mate 



