A BIRD STORY.
[TO TEl EDITOR OP THE " SPEOTITOR,"]
SIR,—Will you allow me to add a touching instance of courage to your pleasant bird stories P Early one morning last summer, I was called to the window by a great noise among the bird people of the garden, and saw the following scene. A young blackbird was standing fascinated by a cat, who was crouched under a bush ready to spring on him. An old blackbird, on an ilex close by, was uttering loud and agitated cries, and there was a general cackle of anger and sympathy from other birds all round. After a few seconds, the cat sprang on the young bird and held him down. At that instant the old bird came down on them. There was a moment's struggle, the bird beating her wings violently in the cat's face and, I think, pecking at her eyes ; then the cat jumped back to her bush, the young bird made off with long hops, and the old one flew up to the ilex, amidst a jubilant chorus of commendation which lasted quite some minutes. I never saw this before, though I have seen a robin come quite close to a cat stalking another bird, and scold and flap his wings in her face.
The ways of birds are delightful, and in a small garden you can have many by keeping earthenware saucers fall of water for them to bathe in.—I am, Sir, &c., E. G. P.
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