Collective Security and Birds A note of surprise and wonder
accompanies the telling of two cat and bird stories that have appeared during the week, one in The Times, one in the Observer. In the first a swift .flew down and pulled up another swift that could not rise from a flat surface, as happens to this long-winged, short- legged bird from time to time. The aid was lent just in time to save the groundling from a cat. In the other tale two American blackbirds nesting near one another attracted the attention of the cats. They seemed ,to be certain victims, but successfullY worked out a plan of collective security. One parent bird would sham wounded (that common device of the partridge) and, when the cat pursued, the other bird would attack the cat furiously ; and this repeated fury finally routed the cats altogether and both nests were saved. They are pretty stories that will increase our admiration for birds ; but it is a mistake to imagine that such altruism is a rare phenomenon, or even such co-operation. I have known an English blackbird rout a cat and even perch on his back. I have known a cock turkey-repel a fox that threatened the chicks ; and instances are legion of birds hunting in co- operation, especially, in my experience, jackdaws and black- backed gulls. The most unexpected co-operation against the cat is the common behaviour of swallows which will 'mob the animal off the premises by swooping within an 'inch or even less of his head.
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