ITS ENEMIES AND FOOD 137 



in the cane near him. Presently there ap- 

 peared three large cats, but they seemed to be play- 

 ing or having a love feast, as they walked about, 

 sprang upon each other, squalled, scratched, 

 springing up the trees, then down again, until 

 he broke up the fun by a couple of shots that 

 laid out a brace of them. Another time he was 

 calling a gobbler which was gobbling vehemently, 

 when suddenly there was a great commotion 

 among the turkeys, clucking and flying up in 

 trees. A cat then appeared out of the cane and 

 was shot. 



Now, does this prove, in either of the last two 

 cases, that the cats were trying to catch the tur- 

 keys? By no means. For, had the cats been try- 

 ing to get a turkey, they would not have shown 

 themselves. I believe the cats were simply 

 lounging about in quest of rabbits or squirrels, 

 and happened to pass near the birds, which 

 became frightened at the appearance of so un- 

 canny a visitor. In the last incident, had the 

 cat been attempting to seize or pounce upon 

 the turkeys, they would not have gobbled again, 

 but would have left the place in a hurry. An- 



