Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-30
SOME OBJECTIONS TO CATS.

Every ono Interested in the progress
of science VIII regret tc learn that tho
famous experiment in the artificial rear
ing "t ,uifod grouse which has been So
successfully Carried on by Prof Clifton
i. liodv" Of Clark University has boon
set back for three years by the hand Of
criminal Every ono of Dr. Ilodee',
grous" has been poisoned. Arsenic, Ind
den in acorns, was thu direct caasc Of
death: cats. seeking the lives OF these
worid-famou5 birds. wore the indirect
cause.
| Three years ago. the rearing Of ruffod
Grouse bv artificial means WAS said to
be an irlrossiolity. On account of the
rapid decrease of this Nalunhlo game
bird attempts without number we're
made to propagate tho species in captiv-
itY. All were unsuo ccssful rntii Dr.
Hodge turned his attention to the matter
and, hy his simple lat Thoughtful efforts
brought a little flock Of healthy. v!gnr-
aus birds to maturity. Tho news OF hi,
success was published fer and wide. and
! brought him congrat ulations from ma
turalists and sportsmen all over the
world
Last winter vsitcd Prof. Hodge Mt
the grouse. They were housed in a pen
in the garden. and had n goodsized omen
air 'run,' made of wire netting. rhcv
were in good condition. seemed CON
tented. and some OF them were so tame
that they would feed from their ms
ters hand and even allow themselves TO
be fondcd
| The chief trouble Prof Clark had had
|
| protecting them from the cats which
haunted the garden. After two birds had
been destroyed by having their heads
ana wings torn on through the meshcs
oi tho netting, the scientist saw his
wh"l' "Np rim"nt threatened with fail
uro. aud cautiously warned his neigh.
lurs that. If the r cats continued their
Expectations. it would be nect ssary for
Kim to take measures to protect his
property. All the Intelligent neirhbors
were in fun sympathy with Dr. Hodge
and either got rid of their cats or did
! ihcir hest 10 keep them where they he
loneed. few paid no attention. ana
the professor was Obliged to set box
traps near his grouse per ana catch the
trespassing cats. All whose owners were
known or could be found. were returned
Nl'h ~ ''fWs'' tildt 'E'N u KGDt Dt
home: II seemed fair 10 presume that
the others were "strays" and as such
they were chlorformed
During recent absence Of Prof Hodge
IN" grouse were left in charge of certain
| students attending the university, and
thcs" young men had great trouble in
defending tn" birds from n particular
cat which persisted in climbing over the
cage. This beast was driven away over
and over again. and at last. when he had
killed one OF the finest of the grouse. nv
causing 1t to fly in terror against the
side Of the pen and burst its crop, one
Of the students threw the FIRST thing
which he could reach, and the cat ceased
tc cucumber the earth. The Massaohus-
cts s, r. e. A. was instieated to prose-
cute the young man on a charge of
'cruelty." as il was claimed that the
cat had not been properly killed. Judge
Utley promptly discharged the defendant
with the following comment;
Here is n case where man found
cat on his premises and was perfectly
Justified in doing what he did. Whether
he meant To strike the cat o, not is
immaterial Some time ago in this court