CANNIBALS IN COURT 331 



" Come to think of it, I am very foml of eating one 

 bird that, so the Wise Men say, is as bad as a monse for 

 mischief. I eat English Sparrows ! 



" One thing I wish the Wise ]Men wonld tell me. Why 

 am I, witliont season or reason, sometimes rnsty-red 

 and sometimes mottled gray ? It confuses my brain so 

 that I hardly know my own face in the pond." 



•* Acquitted! " said Judge Eagle. " Long-eared ( )wl, 

 what' have you to say?" 



The Long-eared Owl was about fifteen inches high. 

 He had, as his name implied, long ear-tufts that stood 

 up very straight over his yellow eyes, and thick tawny 

 stockino-s on his feet and le^-s. He Avas finelv mottled 

 above with brown, black, and dark orange, had long 

 brown streaks on his buff l)reast, and dark-brown bands 

 on his Avings and tail. He gave a hoot and spoke very 

 quickly. 



" Fm a good Citizen, too. I do not eat many birds, 

 and those I do eat are not the useful ones who kill 

 insects ; moles, mice, rats, and beetles are my daily 

 food. But House People do not know this, and hunt 

 me until I am almost discouraged ; for thougli I am 

 a Night Owl I do not live in such wild places as some 

 of my brethren, and so I am more easily cauglit. I live 

 and nest anywhere I like, from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific. I rear my young eqi'ially well in an old 

 Crow's nest in a high tree, or one I build for myself 

 in a bush. I mean well and am a Wise A\'atcher. I 

 know my voice frightens House People, but let them 

 pity me and point their guns at sometliing else." 



" Short and to tlie point ! Acquitted ! " said the 

 Eagle. "Snowy Owl, it is your turn." 



