Chapter Eighteen
“The barn is a world unto itself,” Mr. Frazer said. “Many creatures live here, in addition to the cows, horses, and other domestic stock. One of the most valuable is the barn cat. You’ll rarely see them, because they’re wary of humans, but without their presence, the mice and rats would devour or foul half the grain and hay. So, we encourage them to stay, and we feed them occasionally.”
Cadet Barlow raised his hand.
“Yes, Mr. Barlow,” Mr. Frazer said.
“If you feed the barn cats, won’t they quit killing mice to eat?”
“It’s not true that a well-fed cat will no longer hunt. A fat cat will still hunt for pleasure.”
“Are the barn owls beneficial?” Liz asked.
“The barn owl,” Mr. Frazer said, “scientific name, Tyto alba, is beneficial, but not so much in the barn. Farmers
