Birds. 2817 



well all the actors in the melancholy drama, both cats and humans ; and to my own 

 mind, at any rate, it is clear that at least one cat has died a prey to a " broken heart." 

 There were, a very few years ago, in the family of an intimate friend of mine, two 

 cats ; one known by the familiar name of Tom, the other — the heroine of my story — 

 undistinguished by any further appellative than the household cognomen of Pussy. 

 Now Tom was much the elder of the two, but for years past he had lived in most 

 exemplary conjugal harmony with Pussy, who had been to him all her life a faithful 

 and affectionate partner, and borne him whole heaps of litters of lovely kittens. In 

 most connubial peace and contentment they shared the kitchen hearth, occupying 

 with decorum their station in the household society, and regarded by all the servants 

 with highest respect and good will. But as time wore on, poor old Tom began to 

 show symptoms of wearing out : decrepid, rheumatic and stiff, with a coat that showed 

 as though it were moth-eaten, red about the eyes, limping and querulous, life it was 

 evident was failing him, and the little span that remained to him was a burden. 

 And hence it came to pass, one winter's day, that orders were issued to John that 

 poor old Tom should be shot : straightway the merciful death-warrant was obeyed, 

 and in a few hours poor Tom was dead and buried. Now John had no sort of idea 

 that Puss had witnessed her husband's execution ; and Puss, at meal times, had been 

 accustomed to sit on John's lap, Tom usually affecting in preference the society of 

 Cook; but from this day forward, for the brief remainder of her existence, she never 

 would go near John : and, wonderful to tell, she steadily refused all food and all 

 comfort, save that — after many days fasting — she was induced to eat one very little 

 mouse ; and she sat, day after day, even in the frost and sleet and rain, upon the 

 grave of her departed Tom. 



" Still, still she thinks 

 She sees him, and indulging the fond thought, 

 Clings yet more closely to the senseless turf." 



And so she pined and wasted away for above a fortnight, and so at last Puss died. 

 When last seen she was evidently in a dying state, but her body was never found : 

 she had crept away to some corner to die unseen. — Arthur Evans ; Market Bosworth. 

 [I have just heard of the lamented death of the kind-hearted writer of this contri- 

 bution.— E. 2V.] 



The Birds of Melbourne. By J. J. Briggs, Esq. 

 (Continued from page 2796). 



Common Redshank (Scolopax calidris). Appear here in win- 

 ter in very small parties, consisting of two or three pairs. They are 

 extremely vigilant, and when disturbed utter a loud, shrill whistle, 

 resembling that produced by human lips. They retreat as spring 

 approaches. 



The Common Sandpiper {Totanus hypoleucos). A very regular 

 summer visitor to the banks of the Trent, where it frequents shallow 



