THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 407 



turhing the nests of other birds. The actions of the birds 

 and their manner toward the Jay are usually sufficient indica- 

 tion of its character. It is not very difficult to surprise the 

 Jay in its raids. on birds' nests. It may possibly be neces- 

 sary now and then to kill a Crow Blackbird that has the 

 nest-robbing habit. 



Xo native bird should be exterminated, for they all serve 

 some useful purpose ; but if the introduced House (or '' Eng- 

 lish") Sparrow could be exterminated, one of the chief ob- 

 stacles to the increase of native birds about villages and cities 

 would be removed. This is now a hopeless task ; but much 

 has been eifected in some localities by feeding the birds on 

 poisoned wheat. Such work, however, should never be at- 

 tempted except by skillful and experienced persons, as other- 

 wise there is much danger of poisoning poultry, Pigeons, and 

 native birds. A persistent shooting of the birds, together 

 with the continual removing of their eggs from all nesting 

 boxes, will eventually drive them out of a locality. 



All who desire to harbor and protect birds must eliminate 

 the bird-killing cat. The cat is of some service in prevent- 

 ing the increase of rats and mice in dwellings, as well as that 

 of other small rodents of the fields and woods ; but the ver- 

 min of the house may be controlled by traps and poison, 

 while those of the field may be restrained by Hawks and 

 Owls. A ferret will in a short time drive all the rats from 

 a building. A smart fox terrier or a good " ratter " will 

 practically exterminate the rats about a farmhouse. As the 

 cat is not an absolute necessity, and as it is a potent carrier 

 of contagious diseases, w r hich it spreads, particularly among 

 children, it would be far better for the community if most of 

 the bird-killing cats now roaming at large could be painlessly 

 disposed of. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 

 Animals has added another to its long list of good works by 

 chloroforming many thousands of homeless vagrant cats in 

 the cities. The Animal Rescue League is not far behind in 

 this good work, which ought to be extended farther into the 

 country districts. Where the cat is deemed necessary in 

 farm or village, no family should keep more than one good 

 mouser, which should never be allowed to have its liberty 



