41 



believed that cats did not kill many birds. Some of the individ- 

 ual expressions are given below. Names are given only where 

 special permission was granted. The names of towns are included 

 to show the distribution of reports. 



"You can't keep a cat from catching birds" (Lynnfield Center). 

 "One bird a month" (South Sudbury). "Have never had a cat 

 that would not catch birds. Don't think any nestlings got away" 

 (South Hanover). "Most cats catch birds" (Hanson). "I 

 never saw a smart 'cat that would not catch birds" (Hanson). 

 "Cats catch one bird in two weeks" (Hanson). "You can't 

 break a cat of catching birds once she gets a taste. Cats will 

 catch them" (Sherborn). "Cats like better to catch birds than 

 rats" (Sherborn), "Cat catches about one bird a week" (Bil- 

 lerica). "We raised one hundred and fifty chickens and the cats 

 didn't touch one of them, so let them have the birds" (Little- 

 ton). "There are two or three nests in a tree near the house, 

 and the cats get the young every year" (Hatch ville). (A farmer 

 of Danvers Highlands makes the same statement). "Had a cat 

 that was something fierce on birds, killed forty-five chickens and 

 brought in a half-grown pheasant" (Danvers Highlands). "This 

 cat of ours will catch every bird she can get hold of" (Silas 

 Hatch, Hatchville). "Robins and chipping sparrows nested 

 here but no nesthngs have been raised. Birds are scarce. Haven't 

 seen a nestling robin this summer" (Eugene Hatch, Hatchville). 

 "Cats make a business of catching birds" (James J. Hatch, 

 Hatchville). "Catches all kinds of birds" (Hatchville). 



Interviews with 271 people showed that the families or stores 

 they represented kept 559 cats, 229 of which killed birds, accord- 

 ing to the admissions of their owners 

 (and more, according to their neigh- 

 bors). Numbers of stray cats were 

 reported in many cases, but the 

 number could not usually be given 

 exactly, as stray or feral cats cannot 

 always be distinguished certainly 

 from wandering neighborhood cats. 

 Most people believe that stray cats 

 are bird hunters. 



Cats allowed to roam at Night. — 

 The most significant item gathered 

 from these reports is that out of 559 a midnight marauder. 



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