BLACKBIRDS l'. CATS.
[To THE EDITOR CF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The interesting letter in your issue of August 2nd on blackbirds and cats recalls to my mind a somewhat similar incident which occurred to a friend of mine at Bexhill. One morning in the spring she heard loud and unusual sounds Proceeding from the garden. On investigating the cause she discovered that her cat had seized and killed a hen blackbird and was gloating ever her victim. But her triumph was shortlived, for in a few minutes the bird's mate flew down, and, alighting on the head of the destroyer of its domestic happiness. pecked her furiously, at the same time uttering piercing cries of rage. The effect of this onitlaught on the cat was remarkable. She seemed paralysed with fear, and crouched trembling during the whole time her punishment lasted—about ten minutes. When at last the bird, exhausted, flew away, the cat darted into the house and hid under a bed in one of the upper rooms. For several days afterwards she could not be persuaded to enter the garden, and when at length she ventured she looked furtively round, and both on that occasion and whenever she went into the garden in future was always on the watch for her injured and indignant enemy. If she saw or heard him she invariably rushed terror-stricken into the house. Surely this must be a rare instance of fearlessness on the part of the bird towards its inveterate foe, and fear on the part of the cat towards a creature which it holds as a rule in contempt and leeks upon as its rightful prey.—I am, Sir, he.,
FRANCES SCRIPPS.
Grove Hill, Southborough Common, Kent.
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