THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 407 
turbing 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. 
No 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 effected 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, which 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 
