The Dickinson press., 1893-04-22
WILD ANIMAL STORIES.
An Awful Tale Told by q MenaEerie
Keeper In New York..


So many stories have been told re-
Gently of battles between tigers and
snake wildcats and elephants. eagles
and %alligators and Goldfish and wild
hogs that the following accurate de-
scrlption of an encounter between q
tomcat and Il canary bird cannot fail
to be Interesting:
The tOmcat and the canary were the
property of an animal dealer on the
West side. who has long had Il reputa-
ton for vericity. The canary was
noted for its t~ierceneSS 1t is u female
bird. about three years old. with bright
yellow feathering. The tomcat is quite
white. With four legs. and weighs-or
rather weighed-about twelve pounds.
During the morning it was noticed
that the canary seemed unusually saw
age. She paced up ami down her cage
in Il great rage. gnaShing her teeth and
glaring at the poor cat. toward whom it
turned out she had developed Il fierce
antipathy.
The keeper secured the door of the
cage as he thought firmly. but during Il
paroxySm of temper the canary
smashed the fastening and was free.
What Il moment. The unfortunate
tomcat gave Il cry of terror and looked
around for some means OF escape. hut
there was none. the door Of the room
in which the carnivorouS animals were
kept being locked.
The proprietor of the menagerie
could do nothing. Spellbound. he
watched the uneven contest. fearing all
the time that the fury of the canary
bird would be expended upon himself.
With a piteous moan the wretched
tomcat felt the talons of the canary
bird sink into his head. He raised him
self up and tried to fight her off. but
the bird parted his every blow and
fercely peckel at his eyes.
Once the cat seized the bird in his
paw. but she got away from him in a
moment. with the loss of only one
feather. She returned to the charge
and rendered one Of the eats eyes blind
with her sharp bill.
The fight had lasted five minutes and
the cat had all the worst of it. He
was painting. and every now and then
rolled over exhausted. uttering pitiful
cries. Though he was valued ut 500.
the keeper Of h menagerie. who was
armed with Il sword and Il shot gun.
did not dare to interfere to Il v him.
The blood of the canary was up and
she meant to Stay the eat.
1t was not long before the awful
work was accomplished. The bird, by
an adroit movement common to canar-
les when in conflict with Q%uadrupeds,
rendered the poor Thomas cat quite
blind. Then ut her leisure. with Il
series of fierce jahs. she penetrated his
brain and he rolled over completely
dead.
The boss was trembling for his own
safety, but it now seemed that the saw
age instincts Of the canary had been
satisfied, for with Il jaunty air she re-
gained her cage and began to MARBLE a
song Of victory.
1t meant life or death to shut the
door, but the brave boss crept cour-
agcously up to the cage and succeeded
in accomplishing this feat. Then he
ran out into the street and tainted.
The nerve pressure had been too great
for him.
Since then the canary's cage has been
strengthened till now it is stronger than
Il safe, and the lions and tigers are
more restful. approaching their in
creased safety. But there will not be
much real peace of mind in that menas-
erie until the canary bird has been dis
posed of for good.-New York Herald.