42 
I gave it up for lost ; but four hours after, I 
saw it rush into my hall, which was open, 
pursued by five other Buzzards, who had 
constrained it to seek again its asylum. 
" After this adventure it ever preserved its 
fidelity to me, coming every night to sleep 
at my window; it grew so familiar as to 
seem to take singular pleasure in my com- 
pany. It attended constantly at dinner, sat 
on a corner of the table, and very often ca- 
ressed me with its head and bill, emitting a 
weak sharp cry, which, however, it some- 
times softened. It is true that I alone had 
this privilege. It one day followed me when 
I was on horseback, more than two leagues, 
flying above my head. 
" It had an aversion both to dogs and cats ; 
nor was it in the least afraid of them ; it had 
often tough battles with them, but always 
came off victorious. I had four very strong 
cats, which I collected into my garden with 
my Buzzard : I threw to them a piece of 
raw flesh ; the nimblest cat seized it — the 
rest pursued; but the bird darted upon her 
body, bit her ears with his bill, and squeezed 
her sides with his talons so forcibly, that the 
