Hi Tom and Tweeters,,

Nope, not quite an error and I'm trying to find the reference. It was
related to a New Zealand island species of which the last recorded specimen
was delivered to a lighthousekeeper by his cat. The keeper kept the cat
and the bird!!

There is a similar story of a biologist going to a remote island to study
the natural history of the locale. While on the ship he was found to have
a cat -- I think it went overboard. New Zealand DOC (Department of
Conservation) folks are rather serious about their jobs! Of course that
might all be author's license but I believe it is in the same book!!

----------
> From: Tom Foote <footet at elwha.evergreen.edu>
> To: S&C Richardson <salix at halcyon.com>
> Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Re: Cats versus birds
> Date: Thursday, February 26, 1998 8:23 AM
>
>
> On Wed, 25 Feb 1998, S&C Richardson wrote:
>
>
> [snip..]
> >
> > These incidents were local extinctions. I don't know if any bird
species
> > extinction has come about due to cats alone.
> >
> Scott--
>
> I vaguely remember something about a lighthouse keeper's
> cat wiping out a particular sparrow.. (excuse the faulty
> memory, if that's in error)
>
> Tom