44 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



again, wheeled round his head, and even pursued him, much scratched and 

 frightened, to the very door of his retreat. 



But, as a rule, the owl lies very safe and snug in his roost, and does not 

 stir till twilight. He is a very curious bird, and we must spend a few minutes 

 in making rather a close acquaintance with him. 



He is a bird of prey, for he hunts mice and rats, and even small birds if 

 they chance to be about in the twilight. His fee'' are formed on purpose to 

 grasp the prey. The toes are feathered ; the first toe is the shortest, and the 

 fourth toe is longer and can be turned backwards. The claws are long and 

 curved, and very sharp. 



Do you notice the thick plumage of the owl 1 It is as fine and soft as 

 possible ; and when he drops from the branch of a tree to the ground, which 

 he sometimes does, when he chances to spy a poor little mouse moving beneath, 

 he makes no sound : the mouse cannot tell he is there until it feels the sharp 

 talons. 



On the side of the head are some loose, slender feathers that make a 

 circle, or, as it is called, a disc. And sometimes the owl has a tuft of upright 

 feathers on each side of the head, like horns, and then he belongs to a family 

 called horned owls. 



The eyes of the owl are very large, and the circle of feathers round them 

 reflect the light upon them as a reflector does upon a lamp. But the worst of 

 it is that these large eyes take in more light than the owl can bear. In the 

 day-time he is blinded by the excess of light. This makes him appear as if 

 he were stupid, and he blunders about as though he had lost his senses. 



The little birds hate the owl, for he pounces upon them whenever he can, 

 and many of their companions have felt his cruel claws. It is fine sport to 

 them if, by any mistake, the owl chances to be abroad in the day-time. They 

 soon find it out, for one tells the other, and there is quite an uproar in the 

 garden. 



It is never generous to take advantage of a defenceless enemy ; but the 

 little birds do not think of this. They have many wrongs to revenge, and 

 they fly at his face, and even peck him, taking care, however, to keep away 

 from his claws, and they scold, and drive him about to their hearts' content. 



As a rule, he does not try to defend himself, but flutters dizzily about, 

 and goggles with his great eyes. But if he stops and turns round upon them, 

 the rabble rout at his heels take to flight in a moment. 



