CHAPTER XV

THE CAT QUESTION

The cat's unchangeable character--A check on the sparrows--Number of sparrows in London--What becomes of the annual increase--No natural check on the park sparrows--Cats in the parks--Story of a cat at Battersea Park--Rabbits destroyed by cats in Hyde Park--Number of cats in London--Ownerless cats--Their miserable condition--How cats are made ownerless--How this evil may be remedied--How to keep cats out of the parks 284