Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-09
State CAME DEPARTMENT
WOULD ERADICATE TABDY
officials Declare Cats Arc Destroy
ing Ground Birds and
Other GANG.

In the enactment OF laws for thu
projection OF Wild birds and provid.
/ OF certain animals. which prey uuor
our most useful birds, the VirRinis
Lesisihture has failed to take into
sonsidcration one OF the greatest en-
emies OF !eathered lilo in this State
the common house cat.
mo cat. generally speaking. leads
~ Jekyli and Mr.. Hyde existence
LAZY and hall asleep around the hous.
unlike It's big brother-the tiger--il
oecoTEes crafty. energetic hunter
creeping upon and destroying ground
pursuing 10 the death any rabbi,
which may happen to cross its path
AGAIN. in broad daylight. cats Will rob
Inc nests or birds. their eggs, their
birds which are useful in dentroyins
thousa nds OF Insects which constantly
'hTeaten tho farmers crops.
100000 to 5o.ooo.ooo cats In the
United States or this number Vir-
Sinia does not lack her fun quota.
,snn,,: SAT, ea,s Will annually, produce
bush. State orni,hologis:. OF Massa-
chusetts. perhaps the greatest living
authority on birds and their pro,ec-
rlble scourse to birds. and Estimates
that a mature cat. In good hunting
territory, kills. on the average. nifty
birds year. Assuming that the es-
Innate Of the number Of cats in the
United States Is approximately cor
rect we have. taking the lowest csti-
mate nj, s:o 100000 cats killing annually
I.o.ooo'oOo birds In this country. The
hSurcs are appalling.
In MS admirable publication: "t-se-
rul Birds and Their Protection" DR..
Forbush declares the cat TO be more
dangerous 20 birds than any mammal
that roams the woods. "tor II is noe
turnal splendid climber. q stalker. 4
strong ieaper. and Is very quick and
AETNA ns,n,,I,. John ,BurroIshs' the grea,
ably destroy more birds than all other
animals combined. while William
butcher presidcn, OF the National
OF bird destruction over known.
The eonntry cat. afforded greater
Ely cousin, des,ross,, j, is generally
believed. more birds than any other
animal. wild or domestic. Some cats
and corn cribs and In the home.
However. the fact should not be over
lacked that certain birds Hre indis.
renstblc 10 the farmer. and the cats
must be controlled II. the insect cat
ing birds are 10 remain. The greater
the number Of cats on a farm, the
Tower useful birds the farmer Will
have around him.
Tha; tho cat Is nigh. hunter
few who know It's habits will deny.
The use of the automobile has
brought out Interesting facts con-
corning the Night activities Of the
cat. Motorists have reported numer-
GUS instances in which they have
seen cats at night bounding across
and along highways far from humsn
hab!tations. In one instance motor
list. passing through n thickiy settled
farming section late at night count
these stealthy night providers ground
nesting birds have small chance OF
escape.
Numerou' sportsmen in the State
make II business to shoot on sight
any cat found roaming the fields. II
Is practice that might well be
followed by all who go afeld with
dog and gun.
When farmers and Sportsmen fully
realize the extent OF the depredat.ons
Of the eat on birds they will, no
doubt, petition the Legislature for
the enactment Of laws to remove ta!s
menace.