A lady recently selecting a hat at a milliner's asked, cautiously:
Is there anything about these feathers that might bring me into trouble with the Bird Protection Society?
Oh, no, madam, said the milliner.
But did they not belong to some bird? persisted the lady.
Well, madam, returned the milliner, pleasantly, "these feathers are the feathers of a howl; and the howl, you know, madam, seein' as 'ow fond he is of mice, is more of a cat than a bird."