124 FROM BLOMIDON TO SMOKY. 



rose-breasted grosbeaks generally came to see 

 what caused so mucli outcry, but they never ap- 

 proached close to the owl. During the flight of 

 j uncos, white-throats, and white-crowned spar- 

 rows in October, these species seemed to care 

 almost nothing about Puffy after a first bustling 

 visit of inquiry. 



A bird of great individuality and irregular 

 distribution is found quite abundantly in the 

 Chocorua country. I refer to the great-crested 

 flycatcher, which, by the way, has always placed 

 snake skins in those of its nests that I have 

 found. No amount of bird clamor will bring 

 this self-contained and suspicious citizen near my 

 owl. He has his own affairs to care for, and he 

 has a contempt for brawls and gossip. Similar 

 indifference was shown the owl in a less marked 

 way by the smaller flycatchers, but the kingbirds 

 maintained their reputation for bidlying by at- 

 tacking Puffy and striking him lightly again 

 and again by well-directed darts from above. 



The swallows and swifts delighted to tease the 

 owl by dashing past him and fanning him with 

 their wings. They showed no fear or hatred. 

 Kino-fishers took no notice of him. The black- 

 billed cuckoo came near, and had a good deal 

 to say in a reproachful voice, but its controlling 

 emotion seemed to be curiosity rather than fear. 

 Late one afternoon in August (the 2d), I placed 



