188 OUT WITH THE BIRDS 



low on the water, facing up wind, and with their 

 beaks were skimming the water, but whether it 

 was insects or algae that were being blown down 

 their throats could not be determined. 



On returning to Lone Tepee it was found that 

 two sharp-shinned hawks were in possession of 

 the grove, and as usual with them, they were tor- 

 menting the life out of the other birds. The 

 flickers were special objects of attack, and their 

 terrified and angry screams, as they dodged 

 about the elms, could be heard at a great dis- 

 tance. It was not the first offence of these 

 sharp-shins either, and a shotgun had been 

 ushered into camp recently for just such an 

 emergency, but the offenders flitted away scorn- 

 fully before it could be used. 



All afternoon, from the oaks across in the 

 main woods, there came an unceasing disturb- 

 ance from some crows. There was no mistak- 

 ing the fact that they were mobbing a horned 

 owl, so finally I sallied out with the gun. For 

 after once examining the nest of this big owl in 

 these woods, I have held that he is no friend of 

 the birds. After a very long and careful stalk, 

 I found two of these great gray fellows, sur- 

 rounded by a dozen crows in the upper branches 



