Some Exotic Owls 



in broad daylight, in the afternoon in fact ; and 

 I have seen him at ten o'clock in the morning, 

 though I must admit that on that occasion he 

 was being mobbed and hustled by the " seven 

 sisters." These ladies, a species of babbling- 

 thrush which always goes about in small parties, 

 keep a very strict watch on suspicious characters, 

 but I do not suppose the plucky little owlet cares 

 very much for their persecution. 



The hatred of crows and hawks is a more 

 serious matter, and I am inclined to think that 

 to the persecution of such birds the retiring 

 habits of owls are very largely due, since they 

 are rather too much for even the larger species. 

 An owl can certainly see all right in the daytime, 

 nor, though his works are evil in the sight of the 

 bird community, does he hate the light, for the 

 owls in the Zoological Gardens may often be 

 seen in the morning sitting in the front of their 

 cages and fairly revelling in the full glare of the 

 sun. 



Conspicuous in his indifference to daylight is 

 the true bird of Athens, and I am sure any one 

 who watches this funny little bird will agree 

 with me that it should be imported into Eng- 

 land to a still further extent. In our London 

 parks it would find a congenial home and be 

 of use in thinning the sparrows, and an owl 

 which would come out by day and show itself 



i37 



