OWLS 6i 



answer must, I think, be found in the intensity of the 

 struggle for existence. Nature balances things with 

 such nicety that the beasts of prey have their work 

 cut out to secure their food. The quarry is there in 

 abundance ; the difficulty is to catch it. If this be 

 so, it follows that the weaker, the less swift, the less 

 skilled of the predaceous creatures must starve to 

 death. In that case the lot of birds and beasts of prey 

 is a less happy one than that of their victims. These 

 latter are usually able to find food in abundance, and 

 death comes suddenly and unexpectedly upon them 

 when they are in the best of health. How much better 

 is such an end than death due to starvation ? 



In most birds the opening of the auditory organ is 

 small ; in owls it is very large and is protected by a 

 movable flap of skin, which probably aids the bird 

 in focussing sounds. In many species of owl the two 

 ear-openings are asymmetrical and differ in shape and 

 size. This arrangement is probably conducive to the 

 accurate location of sound. Want of space debars me 

 from further dilating upon the wonderful ear of the 

 owl. 



In conclusion, mention must be made of the flexible 



wing feathers, and their soft, downy edges. Air rushing 



through these makes no sound. Hence the ear may not 



hear, but 



" The eye 

 May trace those sailing pirates of the night, 

 Stooping with dusky prows to cleave the gloom, 

 Scattering a momentary wake behind, 

 A palpable and broken brightness shed, 

 As with white wings they part the darksome air." 



