22 C A. VARIES AND CaCE-BiRDS. 



her favourite hole from which she has bagged many a mouse, and watches it as only a cat can ; but 

 a slight flutter in one of the cages breaks the stillness of the room, and she is there in a moment, 

 and that unfortunate bird is either " killed fatally dead " or frightened to death, and the cat's 

 appetite being whetted, she makes a complete job of the work before she tires of the amusement 

 of putting her velvet paws through the wires. We have known it to be the case in more than one 

 instance, and think that shutting a cat in a room among birds is like smoking a pipe beside a keg 

 of gunpowder with the head out : but one single spark is wanted to do all the mischief "A place 



MR. young's breeding-room. 



for everything, and everything in its place," is the motto of a well-ordered room; and the place 

 for the cat is on the outside of the door. 



We have spoken of mice only, as they are the most common depredators, and are certain 

 to be attracted to a bird-room. But in country districts, where other kinds of \'crniin not unfre- 

 quently visit the homestead, the greatest care should be taken to exclude those known to be of a 

 most cruel and bloodthirsty disposition. Visitors of this description are unknown in towns, but in 

 the country, in old buildings in which the walls are none of the soundest, a weasel or stoat may 

 easily secrete himself and play havoc. These gentlemen can squeeze through an opening some- 

 thing smaller than a crack ; indeed, the how, when, and where of their ingress is often a mystery, 

 and where such arc known to exist they must be guarded against witli extreme watchfulness. We 



