Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-09-05
Household Pet Factor I'm Crop
Fai1upe.

former, even Il II means that the pet cat
will have to 20. The number Of cats in
the United States 10 put BY Frank n.
Chapman, OF the American Museum OF
Natural History, at twenty-five millions,
20 that we might lose quite few without
missing them. The cats OF New York
state alone kill 3,5Oo,0o0 birds annually.
Mr.. Forbush goes on:
"rbese facts amply prove that an In
crease Of crop-destruction by insects has
been closely associated With decrease In
the bird population OF the United States.
Also that the number ofthess benedcently
voracious creatures killed by huntins cats
is much larger than most people suspect.
Massachusetts and New York ara
prominent among the states in which Of
forts are being made to get exact report u
on the bird-killing activities OF cass.
Numerous letters tell OF cats killing from
one bird day in summer to thirteen or
more-the latter number being one which
can scarcely represent an average, even for
. good hunter, but rather . high-w water
mark. A surprising number OF letters
have come from owners devoted to some
pet cat, who, nevertheless, manfuliy or
womanfull, confess that he or she can not
keep it from killing birds, especially In
the nesting sesson.
from W hich cats have been excluded be-
come bird psradises. Gardeners Island,
New York, where no cats are allowed.
is famous for its large population Of BIRDS
snow, just what does IL mean to MS to
have these great numbers OF birds slaugh-
tered; The stomachs OF many thousands
OF birds OF many species have been ex-
amined by the Biological Survey. We
have reports on 1882 such examinations
before US, and thousands more are indi-
Gated. 1t has been found that of the
species represented none OF the smaller
land birds, excepting. perhaps, the Eng
fish sparrow, but not excepting even thr
crow, does more harm than good BY it's
food habits. Many feed largely upon
different varieties OF caterpillars - those
truly insatiate dcvourers OF green pant
food, while the majority feed chiefly upon
destructive insects, especially during this
periods of nesting and Noting. The food
OF different species observed has been
found TO include from ~ lo~ as thirteen
to rs high as ninety seven per cent. in
jurious insects or noxious weed seeds,
and even where cultivated fruits and
grain were found they existed in most
cases only in ratio utterly negligible in
proportion to the good done by the total
food consumption OF the bird in question.
Legislation TO suppress the cat, while
allowing tito be kept as pet, has been
proposed in several states. In most
cases this provides for the Issuing of
licenses, usually at . low fee-onfy 70
cents in New York. Unlicensed cats,
then, would, OF course, be destroyed. and
the official cst-catcher would take his
place with the dog-catcher as an object
OF popular execration. We read again:
'.it is impossible to think that any, hing
but good could come OF the very moderate
laws proposed-for in every instance the
movement must meet and be modified
by the views of cat-lovers, so that there
is no chance OF any drastic or crust Law
being enacts d in any part OF the United
States. By proper legislation. the wild
cat of the country which kills so many
invaluab BILE birds, would be controlled,
the cruelty Of thoughtlsss people would
be checked, and the miserable stray cat
OF the city, which carries infection about
with il, would disappc
ssThis last il one OF the greatest gains
which may be expected from cat
regulation. Even the best cared for
cats are known to be carriers OF disease
germs, yet many prefer to take their
chance OF resisting infection rather than
give up their beloved comrade, the dog,
and their dainty tyrsnt, the cat. Bot
il the weli-cared-for pet. bsthed and
kept As much from all hlth ~ his nature
will permit, 10 acknowledged to be in
some degree 4 danger, what OF the stray
cat? What OF the prowier from garbage
can to gsrbage-can, the hider in dusty
corners, the sick. NANCY, bathless caty
Such cats are shame to our cities and Q
menace to our children-especially to the
children OF the poor, who, unchecked,
catch. fondle, tease and torment the
stretched creatures.
'The cat-ownsrs, resident in licensed
and non-licenssd states alike, can greatly
assist in the preservation Of birds by q
careful supervision Of their pets. The
cat should invariably be kept in ct night,
and confined until seven or eight in the
morning, 30 that the birds will have
finished their first and most absorb
hunger hunt OF the day. II it is mecca
sary to put the cat out in the early morn
ing, it may be leashed to light trolley.
II the cat Is known to be . bird hunter,
1t should NOT be allowed At large at all.
Even cats with no such reputation should
be restrained during the season when
there are young birds about.
''If you must keep cat, feed 1t well,
restrict its liberty At nesting time and at
hours when birds are bunting for food.
Keep it indoors sitter dark. The female