rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (R C. Buchmann) (11/29/89)
All this talk about cats, and a recent article about cats and red-tailed hawks, reminds me of a story my father, who used to be a master falconer, told me. He said that in his old neighborhood, there was a cat that was like the town bully with rodents and birds, like all these we've been discussing so far. One day, however, my father had tethered "Big Red" (an exceptionally large red-tailed hawk he owned at the time) in his back yard. Sure enough, the cat appeared before long and began to stalk the hawk. The red-tail noticed the cat, and watched it's approach intently. Just as the cat got within striking distance, the hawk suddenly mantled and emitted a low hiss at the cat. In response, the cat evaporated, and never came anywhere near his yard again. Afterward my dad said that he wished the cat had been undeterred by the hawk's anger, for them his hawk would have gotten an excellent meal, and a real trouble maker eliminated (the cat was a stray and therefore would not be missed by anyone). If only warblers and thrushes could intimidate cats like that... -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- R. Cody Buchmann ^.^ "Kehaar" email: rcb33483@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu "Now I fly for you..." - Watership Down ------------------------------------------------------------------------------