62 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



reclined on the ground for a short rest and amused myself in watch- 

 ing the antics of a roving band of Chickadees, Kinglets and Nut- 

 hatches, the former species likewise showing considerable interest in 

 return, and making numerous spicy comments on my general appear- 

 ance. Presently some of the Chickadees which were in a thicket 

 just ahead began to utter excited cries and scoldings. Among these 

 calls occurred a frequently repeated "Qu'est-ce que c'est ?" answered 

 equally often by "Quelque chose," or at least that is what the 

 sounds seemed like to me when put in words. 



lyazily I started to investigate the source of the outburst, and 

 before proceeding far a Grouse burst with a "whirr" from the fur- 

 ther side of a dense evergreen and flew straight "into the sun." 

 The report of the gun was met with an answering thud and a feel- 

 ing of satisfaction at the thought of Partridge for supper. How- 

 ever, on going to retrieve the bird there was Sambo, flat on his 

 back, plumage bristling on all sides, while with vigorous hisses and 

 snappings of his bill he expressed his opinion of anybody who would 

 mistake a respectable I^ong-eared Owl for a Partridge. His feet 

 were up in the air with open talons, ready to clutch anything which 

 ventured to approach him. Past experience had shown me that it 

 was not a desirable task to pick up a wounded Hawk or Owl bare- 

 handed, when it assumed this posture, so I offered him the barrel 

 of the gun and this was quickly grasped and he was lifted until he 

 could be grasped by both wings, and thus safel}^ carried. 



Careful examination seemed to show that he was wing-tipped 

 on the right wing, and at that time no other wounds could be 

 detected. Sambo went home with me and was given the range of a 

 large shop in our back yard. After a good night's rest he proved 

 a very interesting character. On going into the shop he would 

 usually be found perched on some shelf, eyes shut, and seemingly 

 sound asleep. He would quickly awake, however, and resent at- 

 tempts at being handled by hissing and snapping his bill. How- 

 ever, in a few days he would allow himself to be handled without 

 any stronger demonstrations than these noises. 



