102 



WOOD NOTES WILD. 



just in time to hear what I had waited for for more 

 than a year. My little screech-owl had come to make 

 amends for his tantalizing delays. I had heard the 

 strains before but had not secured them. They were as 

 follows : — 



00, Ah • 00, Ah • 00, Ah - oo. 



It is hard to believe that pleadings so gentle can 

 accompany thoughts intent on plunder and blood. I do 

 not know where to look again for so painful a contradic- 

 tion as exists between the tones of this bird and his 

 wicked work. Wilson, noticing the inconsistency be- 

 tween his utterances and his actions, says of one he had 

 in confinement, that at twilight he " flew about the room 

 with the silence of thought, and perching, moaned out 

 his melancholy notes with many lively gesticulations not 

 at all in accordance with the pitiful tone of his ditty, 

 which reminded one of a half-frozen puppy." 



The naturalist is glad to be a " companion of owls " for 

 a season, willingly taking the risk of their making night 

 hideous and keeping him awake with their " snoring." 



