UNNATURAL HISTORY 151 
tailor, it probably thought that it was doing an act 
of kindness. 
Not many months ago, I read in a popular magazine 
of Natural History of some pigeons which took offence 
at something done by the owner of a garden, in which 
they were in the habit of feeding. The offended birds 
took counsel among themselves and then went away, 
and, having gathered together some other kindred 
spirits, proceeded to devastate the garden, uprooting 
plants and plucking the flowers. 
The “ Spectator” used to be a great disseminator of 
unnatural history. I am glad to be able to say that 
the paper has since mended its ways, and now publishes 
most excellent articles on birds and beasts by those 
who are really acquainted with their ways. As an 
example of what used to appear, let me quote the 
following, which has been republished in a book entitled 
“Cat and Bird Stories.” The paragraph is headed 
“Feline Mourners.” Says the writer: “A lady told 
me that there was a pet cat in her family, who was 
very fond of this lady’s mother. When the latter was 
in her last illness, the cat was continually with her, 
lying on the bed. The lady died, and the cat was, of 
course, not again admitted to the room, though pre- 
senting herself again and again at the door. When the 
coffin was being carried downstairs, the cat happened 
to appear, and, on seeing it, uttered a shriek. ... The 
sound made was entirely unlike those made by cats 
under any circumstances whatever, unless it be the cry 
made when in sudden pain.” 
Let us for the moment go so far as to suppose that 
