Ed and all,
    You want a cat controversy? Last week while on vacation in another
nearby state which borders the south and west of Maryland, which shall go
nameless, Laura and I took a train ride out of Cass to the top of Bald Knob.
We were hoping for Mourning Warblers up there. The trip was narrated by a
colorful local named Roger. Roger was full of local history and lore and I
really enjoyed his stories.
    One of them had to do with a cat. This cat was seen by 143 passengers
from the train right near the top of Bald Knob about 2 years ago. The cat in
question was a cougar. Roger says he also saw one down lower between Cass
and Marlinton, but was alone at the time.
    You want a cat controversy, folks, that is a cat controversy.
    As for birding from a train, I don't recommend it. Steam engines are so
noisy they scare everything away. The only thing we saw from the train
itself was a junco. However the views from up there were well worth the
cost.
    Jerry Tarbell
    Carroll County