THE MOCKING-BIRD. 85 



his own safety. Dogs and cats sometimes make 

 believe they do not care for the mocker, but really 

 they do hate him more than any bird. He is 

 more than a match for them. 



We know of a pet house-cat whose back was 

 made very sore by repeated attacks of the mock- 

 ers whose nest was in the vine above the door. 



MOCKING-BIRD. 



If the cat ventured out by daylight, though ever 

 so slyly, the parent mockers flew at him with such 

 cunning rage, that he sought the first cover in 

 sight. One bird attacked the cat on one side, 

 while its mate slipped up on the other and gave 

 a pull at the fur. In due time, the cat, with a 



