98 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



quarters, to have that notion dispelled, and 

 realize half the magic of that flight. 



This little owl with his great silent wings must 

 be the one constant dread in the heart of the 

 field-mouse. Nature seems to have designed 

 this bird as a check to these destructive rodents. 

 He has the usual owl eye, the steely claws, the 

 powerful, swift, and perfectly noiseless flight, 

 and the magic ear, but in him these things seem 

 carried a little farther and nearer perfection 

 than in most of his kin. His small, yellow eyes 

 are surrounded by circles of black, possibly serv- 

 ing the purpose of shading these organs — for 

 this owl is always in the open and is something of 

 a hunter by daylight — his toes, when closing in 

 a grip, point their talons inward, making escape 

 from their points impossible; he has a greater 

 wing-spread in proportion to his bulk than his 

 relatives; and his ear is a marvel of fitness. 

 About the region of the latter is a space over 

 two inches wide, entirely devoid of feathers, and 

 in the center of this huge bald spot is the audi- 

 tory canal into the head — an opening which is 

 almost three-eighths of an inch in diameter. 

 Small wonder that the squeak of a mouse 

 reaches him from afar. 



