BlO—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Hovtmbtr 14,1981 -c Wonders Of Nature No small wonder is the lands monster stands 83 feet gargantuan dimensions of tall and its crown spread the new national champion covers 85 feet. The new baldcypress tree which was champion earned its official discovered on Georgia-Pacif- title from the American ic timberlands deep in the Forestry Association, which Mississippi River bottom- administers the National lands north of Baton Rouge, Register of Big Trees. Louisiana. Dwarfing the two Taxodium distichum may Georgia-Pacific foresters (at be the scientific name of this either side) who found it, tree-mendous baldcypress, its trunk has a girth measur- but being No. 1 is its true ing 53 feet. This bottom- claim to fame. Want to make some nuHnirgers? Hey kids, mom is probably busy preparing nut recipes she found in Home on the Range, so why,don’t you get in on the act and try a new twist in the normal, dull hamburger 7 It's called a nutburger and the recipe is below: Nutburgers IVz lb. ground beef 11. salt 1/81. pepper 1 small onion, to be chopped Vi c. walnuts, to be chopped 8 sprigs parsley, to be chopped 4 hamburger buns Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper; mix, then form into 8 thin patties. Chop and combine onion, walnuts, and parsley: spread mixture on 4 patties. Cover with remaining patties; press edges of meat together so filling is sealed in. Grill until brown; serve on split buns. Makes 4 sandwiches \sk \ ,'<f ' Why cats hunt LANCASTER It you’ve had an outdoor cat, you’ve probably seen the pet stalking insects, birds, or small animals. And you may have wondered why the cat bothered with the chase. It already had plenty of food, and lots of toys. The reasons why modern domestic cats continue to hunt have intrigued behavioral scientists for several decades. Several technical papers have analyzed this and other aspects of feline behavior. According to Paul Leyhausen author of Cat Behavior, the cat’s hunting instinct probably was developed before its association with man began. Creeping along the ground, and keeping a low profile is an effective way of reaching a small ground animal. The cat tracks the animal until it strays a reasonable distance from a hole, and then pounces on it. If a cat corners a rat or mouse, it generally waits for the prey to turn and run before attacking. This gives the cat the opportunity to grab the back of the rodent’s neck for a quick kill. On the other hand, an aggressive mouse or rat is often successful in escaping by forcing the cat to jump back in self defense. Although some cats are ex ceptionally successful in downing birds, the average cat stalks many more birds than it actually cat ches. A bird’s erratic movements and unpredictable short flights made it difficult for a cat to.plan a method of attack. Cats are most likely to chase and catch birds in areas where the rodent population is low. And even then, the cats will spend time chasing insects as well. Studies run by state fish and game departments indicate that cats use birds for only a small portion of their diet. You may wonder why a cat spends time chasing a small animal, and then leaves it uneaten by your doorstep or on the kitchen floor. Research hasn’t provided a firm answer. One theory is that the cat wants to store the food for later, when it may be hungry. Another idea is that the cat’s predatory instinct is aroused by the sight of a rodent, and the full There ere seven differences in the second picture, Con you spot thorn? iS3 seems to want to get _ act of milking a cow and this donkey is no exception. However we have our doubts as to whether what he boasts is true or not. What do you think? Have you ever milked a cow? sequence of its catching and killing cycle has to take place, even if the cat isn’t hungry. Many of an outdoor cat’s injuries are related to hunting. Deep, festering abscesses start when a mouse or rat bites a heal at the surface, trapping bacteria inside. Shallow, ragged cuts are often the results of trips through landfills or construction sites littered with metal scrap. Cats also develop infected sores when they fight each other for hunting territories. If you see your cat constantly .licking one spot or tavormg one ■JTeii '<«a»X ' j«i 'aonvta '.leads side, you might check for a small lump or hot spot that would signal a hidden abscess. Your veterinarian will have to open the abscess to help it heal from the inside out. You will do yourself as well as your outdoor cat a favor by remembering to keep your pet’s rabies vaccination up to date. Any pet that has frequent contact with wild animals particularly raccoons and skunks should be protected against this fatal disease. SaiMSNV
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers