p. 562 | A Sharp Pigeon

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 14, 1882

A Sharp Pigeon.

CATS are generally thought to possess great cunning; but no one would look for that quality in pigeons. The other day, however, I saw something in the alley-way behind our store that proved one pigeon, at least, had sufficient craft to outwit a cat.

The bird I am to speak of was busily engaged in picking up scatterings of grain, when our "tabby" came forth in the stealthy manner peculiar to her race, and prepared to capture him, he not seeming to suspect there was a cat within five miles.

Gradually Miss Puss wriggled up to a place from which she could make her deadly spring. But just as she was going to jump, the pigeon gave a flying leap, landing some ten feet away, and then went on picking up grain, all the time not appearing to see his enemy.

Not discouraged by her first failure, kitty again went through the crawling process, until near enough for a leap, only to see the pigeon quietly hop beyond her reach and continue his dinner.

This performance was repeated several times. The bird, while not appearing to notice his pursuer, was really keeping a sharp look-out, and never allowed her to get quite near enough for a spring. At last, in his retreat he had reached the alley's end, where there was no chance to go any farther.

"Now," thought I, "this fun must end. Mr. Pigeon will have to fly away altogether or get caught." Pussy was evidently of the same opinion, for she approached her intended victim with even more than usual caution. But the seemingly careless bird knew his business better than either of us, and picked away as though nothing was the matter.

This time puss actually succeeded in making her spring, and landed just where she intended. But the pigeon wasn't there! He went into the air at exactly the right moment, and flying over the cat's head, alighted on the very spot from which she had just sprung.

Our cat had neither courage nor patience to endure any more such trifling, and with a very dejected look, disappeared through a broken cellar window, leaving Mr. Pigeon to finish his dinner at his leisure.—Selected.