SILENT WING THE GREAT HORNED OWL 155 



but when the boy started on, he flew from tree to tree, 

 snapping his bill after the manner of his race, and when 

 the boy left the woods and entered the big road the owl 

 flew out across the open field in search of his supper. 



One evening during our usual January thaw a female 

 owl flew to our grove, and alighted near the grapevine play- 

 house. By some accident (or was it an accident?) Silent 

 Wing flew directly across the fields from Stalker's woods 

 and alighted in the same tree. The call of spring was 

 strong in his veins — the mating call of the wildlings. 

 Silent Wing no sooner saw her ladyship than he knew he 

 wanted her and he wanted her right now. 



So he began bowing his head, ruffling his feathers, rais- 

 ing his wings and spreading his wings in a curious manner, 

 making himself appear so ridiculous that the boy in the 

 grapevine swing would have laughed outright had he not 

 been fearful they would leave. Aside from watching his 

 antics, she took no notice of his presence. Growing more 

 earnest, he began hopping from branch to branch, continu- 

 ing his maneuvers and snapping his biU fiercely as if to 

 show that even tho he was not so large as she, what he 

 lacked in size he made up in bravery. 



Finally, he attempted to approach and caress her but she 

 ruffled her feathers and rebuked him sharply. He took 

 flight, sailing up and down, around and around, evidently 

 doing all the stunts of his race, now and again punctuat- 

 ing his efforts bj'' snapping his bill. After a few moments 

 he ahghted again and began his bowing and dancing aU 

 over again. 



A rabbit came running down the bank and its white 

 flag caught his eye. Rising in noiseless flight, he sailed 

 downward without the flap of a Vising, caught his prey from 



