ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 41 



the claws are trimmed, the foot looks precisely as it did before the trim- 

 ming was performed — that is to say, nothing unsightly results. 



"Some will say that it prevents the cat from catching mice. Well, 

 what of it? There is not one cat in a hundred that catches mice for 

 any purpose; moreover, a few mousetraps of modern models will very 

 quickly rid house, barn, and outhouses of all description of mice. Any 

 of the 'cyclone' pattern of traps will do it in a few weeks. Cats with 

 trimmed claws can enjoy their milk and other food just as well as 

 with untrimmed ones, so there is no cruelty done along such lines. 



"Finally, were we to trim the claws in the manner indicated of all 

 claimed cats, and destroy all cats not claimed by anyone, we would save 

 thousands of insectivorous birds annually ; and surely the country has 

 by this time begun to realize what the insectivorous birds mean to the 

 farm and agriculturist generally. A federal law should be enacted to 

 enforce what is indicated in this matter, and be so framed that, when 

 passed, it would be in the highest degree effective." 



Winter Notes from Port Byron 



Following is a list of birds seen by the writer during December 

 1917 and January, 1918. Also a record of one species seen the first 

 four days of February: 



Bob-white, a good many coveys were seen last fall, but they were 

 badly shot up by hunters during the open season. The last ones seen 

 by me during the winter was on December 23 ; Rough-legged Hawk, 

 only a few were seen during the winter ; Sparrow 7 Hawk, one was 

 seen flying from a telephone pole along the public highway, December 

 22 ; Screech Owl, common ; Great Horned Owl, common ; Snow r y Owl, 

 one seen February 1, 2, 3 and 4, always after sunset or before sun- 

 rise, flying back and forth in a pasture near the house, probably trying 

 to catch mice, as quite often she would fly down and appear to be 

 trying to catch something on the surface of the snow, which was then 

 about two feet deep. Before sunrise on February 4, when about 200 

 Juncos and Tree Sparrow's began to arrive at the house to be fed, the 

 Snowy Owl came flying along close to the surface of the snow and 

 alighted behind an elder patch about 40 feet from the house. The owl 

 probably was trying to catch one of the Juncos or Tree Sparrows, and 

 when I stepped outside to see what she was doing, she flew rapidly 

 away. The next day the weather moderated, and the Snowy Owl was 

 not seen again. The weather was very severe during the time the owl 

 stayed here. 



On the mornings of February 1 and 4, the thermometer 

 registered 18 degrees below zero ; Hairy Woodpecker, common ; Downy 

 Woodpecker, common ; Red-headed Woodpecker, common ; Red-bellied 

 Woodpecker, common ; Northern Flicker, one was seen December 2, 

 and two on December 23 ; Prairie Horned Lark, two were seen January 

 25. This was the first day in January that any snow melted on the 

 roofs facing south ; Blue Jay, common ; Crow, common ; Bronzed 

 Grackle, one came into the garden and houseyard on the morning of 

 December 21. A Downy Woodpecker that had been eating suet, was 



