r. Whiskers' Problem

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

Lady Angela of Alpine Castle enjoyed the companionship of her cat, Mr. Whiskers. He was left in Lady Angela’s care some time ago by a friend for safekeeping for two weeks. The friend went away and wrote he was not coming back. Lady Angela wrote her friend and said that Mr. Whiskers was most welcome to stay at Alpine Castle.

Mr. Whiskers was given the run of the castle and loved to play on the castle grounds. One of Mr. Whiskers’ favorite spots on the grounds was near a large tree. However, as of late, every time he would go near the tree a large black bird would fly right toward his head and scare him away.

Lady Angela was informed about this diving black bird and went to see the bird for herself. While Mr. Whiskers was playing merrily, out of nowhere this big black bird began to attack. Poor Mr. Whiskers drew back and ran away to hide.

Lady Angela asked her fiancée, the Baron, if he had any suggestions because he, too, was very fond of Mr. Whiskers. Professor Hamblin, the Baron’s chief advisor, was asked for an opinion, as well. The Professor said that perhaps the bird was protecting his or her territory. There could be little chicks in the tree and the black bird wanted to chase any danger away.

Lady Angela decided to keep Mr. Whiskers in the castle for the next two weeks to see what happened. Finally, when Mr. Whiskers was allowed to play outside again, the big black bird was not there any longer.

The Professor’s idea was that the parent black bird was only protecting the baby chicks until they were old enough to fly away.

Most animals have territory that they protect, but the territorial lines are not clearly mapped out and sometimes they must be discovered the hard way be being chased away from the area.

“I am very glad that we did not have a grounds worker wait and hit the black bird with a stick because that may have meant that the chicks, waiting patiently in the nest for food, would have been without food and warmth from the parent.

“We did the right thing,” Lady Angela said.