THE BROWN OR TAWNY OWL. 203 



mice and small birds to that of fish. I will ask permission 

 to quote a most interesting account by an eje-witness of 

 this fact. It is from the book entitled On Surrey Hills, "Bj 

 a Son of the Marshes." " No sound is to be heard but the 

 ripple of the water over the broad shallow which reflects 

 the light of the moon. The dead limbs of a beech tree 

 project over the water. Three noiseless forms pass over- 

 head and settle on the white limbs of the old beech. One 

 adult and two young (brown owls) are there. The two 

 young birds are on one limb, where they chatter together in 

 owl fashion ; the old owl perches on a limb directly over the 

 shallowest part of the river. Fish are working about, roach 

 probably, for their sides flash silver, as they scuttle over the 

 pebbles of the ford. I chance to tread on a little twig — it 

 snaps; there is only the slightest sound, but they hear it. 

 Instantly their heads and bodies are erect like those of 

 soldiers, looking half their usual size, for when alarmed 

 their feathers are drawn close to the body. Finding that 

 nothing ensues after the snapping of the twig, they settle 

 down as before, the young ones softly whining to each other. 

 The old bird now begins to sway to and fro, the head 

 moving round first one way and then another. There is a 

 flash of fish on the pebbles ; down drops the owl and fixes 

 one. The water flies in showers of sparkling drops as the 

 fish make for deeper water, whilst the one captured kicks 

 vigorously. 



" No chance of escape ; the owl'grasps the fish with one 

 foot and hops with the other ; then up he goes to the 

 young ones. The prize is a good-sized fish, apparently a 

 half-pounder. A great commotion follows ; there is much 

 flapping of wings and whining on the part of the young 

 owls as they all shoot off to ilieir dining-room at the foot of 

 the Whites." 



