SOME LITTLE OWLS 95 



puzzle. But at the time I was much more con- 

 cerned with the problem of getting the birds to 

 show themselves voluntarily than in finding 

 what was at the end of the tunnel by destroying 

 it, so I set up the machine, wrapped it well with 

 tufts of wormwood, that grew plentifully about 

 the knoll, then attached a long string and went 

 back and lay down. 



The old fellow, looking on from a nearby 

 mound, protested a good deal at my impudence ; 

 and at short intervals he raised a shout which I 

 interpreted as a command to his spouse and 

 youngsters to lie low and keep shady. My note- 

 book does not record the exact number of hours 

 that I waited for something to appear at that 

 hole, but I waited in vain. Several " gophers " 

 scurried about, and one big chap insisted on bit- 

 ing at the string attached to my kodak, return- 

 ing to the mischief even after he had been pelted 

 away. Whatever the owls may be able to do to 

 the young gophers, it is evident that they can- 

 not handle the old ones. These little neighbors 

 furnished amusement for a time, but that July 

 sun had a blister in every square inch of it, so I 

 gave it up at length and went away firm in the 

 belief that before 1 would reach the cross-road 



