Unfortunately, of course, it is dead; but he does everything possible to make it seem alive!
He takes it between his forepaws and casts it high in the air, then catches it with a deep, savage growl. He puts it in front of him and gives it a push, causing it to jerk forward. This stimulates his imagination enormously; he thinks the bird is about to escape, and quickly thrusts his claws into it.
Again, with rapid touches of his paws he brushes the starling towards him, at the same time jumping back quickly—and now in his haste he rolls over backwards and lies there, juggling ecstatically with the dead bird.
Surrounding him, but hidden behind stone and hillock, his brothers and sisters, with ears stiff and whiskers quivering, wait and watch ... perhaps a miracle will happen and the bird fly towards one of them....
Just then a sea-gull comes sweeping past the mound, and, startled at seeing the kitten flock just beneath it, drops a jet of white, which hits the victor on the forehead and nose....
Big makes a leap upwards at the sharp-shooter, and afterwards, feeling the need of a good wash, forgets for a time all about the starling.
When he returns it has vanished! Tiny sits with a most innocent expression on his face, and Red had a feather in his whiskers!
He ought really to have trounced the two impudent brutes; but it was beneath his dignity—besides, he was full to the brim. He could go out into the field and catch another one if he liked—he was quite certain he could!
BLACK-KITTEN
This was a fellow to be handled carefully!