The Book of Cats. 263 



where Pussy's natural prey have turned upon her 

 in a most unpleasant manner ; thus : — 



A Cat was observed on the top of a paled fence, 

 endeavouring to get at a blackbird's nest, which 

 was near it. The hen left the nest at her approach, 

 and flew to meet her in a state of alarm, and 

 uttered a wild cry. The cock bird, on perceiving 

 the danger, showed signs of distress by sometimes 

 settling on the fence just before the Cat, who was 

 unable to make a spring in consequence of the 

 narrowness of her footing. After a little while, 

 the cock bird flew at the Cat, settled on her back, 

 and pecked her head with so much violence that 

 she fell to the ground, followed by the blackbird, 

 who succeeded in driving her away. A second 

 time the same scene occurred ; the blackbird was 

 again victorious ; and the Cat became so intimi- 

 dated at the attacks made upon her, that she gave 

 over the attempts to get at the young ones. After 

 each battle, the blackbird celebrated his victory 

 with a song, and for several days afterwards he 

 would hunt the Cat about the garden whenever she 

 left the house. There is also an instance of a pair 

 of blackbirds following a boy into a house, and 

 pecking at his head, while he was conveying one of 

 their young into it. 



