350 
are Robins, and it sometimes takes the nicest adjustment of our sympathies 
to balance the scale between them. In general, we cannot have both 
cats and birds close about us, for only very rarely is it possible to teach a 
cat not to catch birds. The cat is an instinctive hunter, and catching 
birds is its nature. Of course a well-fed cat will not effect the same devasta- 
tion as one that has to earn its own living, but not even the best and fattest 
and laziest of them can resist the stealthy stalk, and rapid pounce, when 
the occasion offers, even though they afterwards refuse to eat their prey. 
The cat is still essentially a wild animal ; it is with man but not of him, and 
has never yielded supremacy and control to the human race as has the dog, 
the horse, and other domesticated animals. It accepts what is offered in 
the way of physical comforts and takes as much more as it can get. It is, 
with all its purring grace, daintiness, and pretty ways, thoroughly selfish, 
and seldom if ever returns a tithe of the affection that is lavished upon it. 
It is “The Cat that Walks Alone” and follows its wild instinct today as 
it did centuries ago before it discovered that man’s hearth was warm and 
his protection and food agreeable. In return, it gives unconsciously all 
it has to offer, its beauty, grace, and playfulness. As a destroyer of vermin 
it is a failure. In campaigns against rodent carriers of disease it was found 
useless. At the best it never really clears a place of rats or mice. A few 
traps intelligently set are much more effective than many cats. 
Of course cat-lovers are as much entitled to their pets as are bird- 
lovers, but they should take care of them. Humanitarians should not 
be offended by the sight of half-starved hunters, with their gaunt sides 
and evident misery, rustling for a living, nor should these cats be allowed to 
devastate bird coverts by their depredations. The elimination of these 
neglected cats would well merit a vote of thanks from the Robin popu- 
lation. 
Economic Status. Though the Robin is an efficient aid to the agri- 
culturist, its fondness for fruit occasionally gets it into trouble with the 
raiser of small fruit. Forty-two per cent of its food is animal, mostly insects, 
the remainder is composed largely of berries and other soft, small fruits 
of which little more than 4 per cent is cultivated fruit. 
763. Varied Thrush (Including Northern Varied Thrush). Oregon robin, wood 
robin, fainted robin. Ixoreus naevius. L, 10. Plate LXXXII B. About the size 
of a Robin and very robin-like in general appearance, but strikingly unlike in details of 
colour. Like a Robin with sharp, black breast-bar, reddish eyebrow-line, wing-bars, and 
spots on flight feathers. 
Distinctions. A breast slightly pale, tawny-red, black breast bar (quite dull in female), 
distinct light eyebrow streak, and bars and spots on wing. Not to be mistaken for any 
other species. 
Field Marks. A Robin variegated as above. 
Nesting. In bushes and small trees, nest of moss, sticks, twigs, and rotten wood. 
Distribution. Western North Amprica. In Canada, British Columbia and the Yukon, 
east to the Mackenzie, and adjacent parts of Alberta. 
SUBSPECIES. The Varied Thrush of British Columbia and northward toward 
Alaska is the Southern Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius naevius. That of Mackenzie 
valley has been described as the Northern Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius mendoides , 
distinguished by some slight colour differences. 
766. Eastern Bluebird. Sialia sialis. L, 7-01. Plate LXXXIII A. Above, from 
crown to tail including face, deep sky blue, throat, breast, and flanks chestnut red. 
Females: similar but duller; juveniles with back largely dark brown with many white 
flecks, throat spotted with rich brown and white, and the blue only showing strongly on 
wings and tail. 
