48 . STOI^IES ABOUT BIRDS. 



He was just in the position in Avliich you see him in the picture, and 

 appeared in a half dozing condition. But on being disturbed he flew away, 

 darting hither and thither in different directions. When he had proceeded 

 in this way a few hundred yards, he stopped and settled down again. 



It is not clearly known whether he hunts by daylight, but, at any rate, he 

 has rather peculiar habits, considering he is an owl. He is often seen among 

 turnips, or by the side of a hedge, and even among the long grass. 



He is called the short-eared owl, and he has, as you see, two little tufts 

 on his head, though they do not show much. His eyes are surrounded by 

 brownish-black feathers, that give him a very sleepy appearance. He is never 

 seen to perch on a tree, but generally hides in the grass, and likes open barren 

 situations. His nest even is placed on the ground, or among reeds and 

 rushes. One nest was found upon a moor or common. It was made by 

 scooping a hole, and then the eggs were placed in it without any further 

 preparation. In America a nest has been seen on a mountain ridge, and 

 another under a bush. It was built in a slovenly way, of dry grass raked 

 together, and was very large. 



The mother owl was sitting on her eggs, and would not have been 

 noticed if she had not made a curious clucking noise with her bill. She was 

 so intent on her business of hatching, that she allowed herself to be touched 

 before she hopped away. And then she went a very little distance, and came 

 back as soon as the intruder was sfone. 



THE STONE OWL. 



The stone owl looks so very wise that he has been called " Minerva's owl.'' 

 For Minerva, as I dare say some of you know, was worshipped by the ancient 

 Greeks as the goddess of wisdom. And the Greeks knew the stone owl very 

 well, and used to paint him in the picture of their goddess. 



His body is dark grey, spotted with white ; and his knowing little face 

 is a greyish white. In the picture he looks as if he had been studying some 

 hard problem, and were coming out of his lair to give us the benefit of his 

 learning. 



He has one habit that .iias made him rather dreaded by ignorant people. 



