Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1881 — An Eagle’s Appetite. [ARTICLE]

An Eagle’s Appetite.

Reading (Pa.) Eagle. J. H. Welker, proprietor of .the Joe Hooker House on Robinson street, has an eagle which is fond of feasting on cats and rats. Boys living in the northern part of the city, upon learning that the bird was fond of cats, carried some there every day to see the eagle destroy them. The report was circulated that the proprietors paid liberally for cats, and a great many more were brought than the eagle could devour. It was not aa unusual thing to see boys after school with half a dozen cats in a bag, some of which bad bsen stolen from the neighbors Finally Mr. Walker refused to allow the boys to feed any more cats to the bird, and now buys rats, paying fifty per hundred. "How many rats have you puchased during the past week?” asked the reporter of Mr. Welker, and he replied: "Seven dozen.” The rats, are thrown into the cage alive, and the eagle grabs themlon the back, pierces them through the vitals, and kills them the same as it did the cats. The rats must be perfect. without being maimed, else the eagle will not touch them.