197 



An rrisliiuMii one (l;iv .slyly entered the yard, but in 

 crossing- Nero's pro\ince lie was set upon by the bird. 

 In the ileshy part of the man's thigh he imbedded his 

 talons, and it was with considerable diftlculty his hold 

 was loosened. Erin's son declared that never before 

 in his life had he met "sich a divil," and that nothing- 

 short of tin." eagle's life could appease his injuries. 



Examination showed that although there were ugly 

 flesh wounds, nothing of a serious nature would fol- 

 low. This information being imparted, and a two do^l- 

 lar bill tendered to the Irishman, his sufferings were 

 mn^h relieved. He stated that although he looked 

 upon the "critter"' as a "bold, bad bnrd," still hi- 

 deemed him a fit subject to "kape frum" any intrusion 

 in Ihe \r,\ck yard, and that in tlie future, wlienever he 

 liad any business with Bridget, he would enter thi' 

 froni gate and make known his wants at the fi'ont 

 doer. 



HE DEVOTJRED THOMAS CAT.S. 



The strongest and largest tom cat he could manage 

 with ease. When anyone had a specially objectiona- 

 ble cat which they wanted disposed of, they would bag 

 it up and bring it to the eagle. As soon as he saw 

 the bag the bird, which an instant before sat moping, 

 ruflfed-feathered and seemingly half dead, suddenly, as 

 if by magic, changed, as it were, into a new being; 

 body erect, feathers close to the body, tail expanded, 

 the sunken eyes, witli ten-fold increased lustre, fol- 

 lowed with argus gaze every motion of the bag and 

 occupant; soon as grimalkin was liberated the eagle 

 swooped down and grasped it. If the cat was of or- 

 dinary size. Nero displayed little concern in dispafch 

 ing it; but if it was a Thomas feline, of hugh dimen- 

 sions, all the powers of the bird wci'e brought into 



