43 
cat was obliged to relinquish her prize. 
Often another cat snatched it the instant it 
dropped; but she suffered the same treat- 
ment, till the Buzzard got entire possession 
of the plunder. He was so dexterous in his 
defence, that when he perceived himself as- 
sailed at once by the four cats, he took wing> 
and uttered a cry of exultation. At last the 
cats, chagrined with their repeated disap- 
pointments, would no longer contend. 
" This Buzzard had a singular antipathy ; 
he would not suffer a red cap on the head 
of any of the peasants; and so alert was he 
in whipping it off, that they found their 
heads bare, without knowing what was be- 
come of their caps. He also snatched wigs, 
without doing any injury ; and he carried 
these caps and wigs to the tallest tree in a 
neighbouring park, which was the ordinary 
deposit of his booty. 
" He would suffer no other bird of prey 
to enter his domain ; he attacked them very 
boldly, and put them to flight. He did no 
mischief in my court-yard ; and the poulty, 
which at first dreaded him, grew insensibly 
reconciled to him. The chickens and duck- 
f 2 
