NATURE—AND MAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18944, 15 May 1933, Page 4

NATURE—AND MAN.

BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY J PLANS FOR CURRENT YEAR. (By Leo Fanning). Following the recent annual meeting, the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society faces a new year with a big programme of action for the birds and trees. The new president, Captain Sanderson, for many years honorary secretary of the society which he founded, is hoping for a large increase of membership. During the next twelve months the society will strive strenuously for -an ending of the muddled control of wild life and for a strong co-operation of friends of native birds and forests against their enemies—human and animal. Readers, if you agree with the sooiety’s ideals for national welfare, join up. Help to strengthen this movement for the benefit of your country. Send your name to J day to the Seoretary, N.Z. Native Bird Protection Society, Box 631, Wellington. Curse of the Cat. Little pussy, purring so softly by the fireside I What a picture of cosy innocence she makes I Yet a change of oircumstances may turn her and her offspring into destroyers of native birds. Many thousands of cats have run wild, and have taken sad toll of birds, wild or tame, the ins-tinct of a cat Is to pounce on a bird whenever it has an opportunity. In a note on -New Zealand’s outlying Islands —the Kermadecs —Sir Walter Bulier remarked:—

“ A large fruit pigeon, supposed to be Identical with the New Zealand speoles, was abundant till It had bean exterminated by the introduced cats. A similar fate has befallen the redfronted parrakeet on Sunday Island.” The guilt of the cat Is well shown by Junius Henderson in his book, “The Practical Value of Birds.” “ The cat," he wrote, “ has been the subject of a large amount of careful Investigation by naturalists for the purpose of determining just Its -economic status, resulting In the conviction that it does a great deal more damage in the destruction of birds than good in the destruction of mice and rats. Cats destroy mors birds than any other animal except man—l,soo,ooo annually in New England according to Forbush, and 3,500,000 in New York according to Fisher. In Massachusetts 226 cats under observation killed 624 birds in one day. Even pet cats, 1 taught from ldttenhood not to kill birds,’ were caught in the act. On one Connecticut estate five oats killed 1000 young pheasants. Occasionally bird-lovers In New Zealand make complaints against cats in the press, and ink is splashed briskly for some days, but the demonstrations die down —and the truant cats live on in their mischief. It is evident tha tthe Dominion’s laws must have an addition —something suitable for the control of predatory cats. “The Little Captives.” What a pitiable spectacle is a singing bird in a small cagel There is some excuse for the imprisonment of canaries which have been bred in captivity for many generations, but nothing good can be said f ® r . t “ 9 cramping smallness of some of their cages. Daphne Neild, in “ The Woman’s Magazine,” has some hearttouching verses on this subject: To-day, inside the window or a shop, A sign attracted me—the one word “ Stop I paused observing there were other words Calling attention to a sale of birds. Bright cages housed the pretty things; They perched on bars, with sadly quiet wings. Such lovely'tints or yellow, green and blue , ■ Were mingled there In every shade and hue! A wee brown bird, ip solitary state, Flew back and forth; perhaps he lacked a mate; _ Or—was he longing for some woodland Where linnets sing and chirp right merrily? Poor little prisoners, who did no wrong, But used to carol forth in happy song When they were free. I’m sure God gave them wings That they might know the joy that freedom brings.