Familiar Studies of Wild Birds 



Exposed to heaven and earth, safe in its very 

 conspicuousness, the long-eared owl sits aloft 

 on its eggs, while its mate secluded amid dense 

 pine bows a few yards off keeps guard. For 

 there are many sharp eyes in the woods, among 

 them the ever prying ones of those unendur- 

 able crows. At any time it may be necessary 

 to divert and lead elsewhere some inquisitive 

 visitor ; so during the day the mate in the pine 

 is ever ready in an emergency. I have known 

 a horned owl to kill and feed to its young a 

 long-eared owl, so that the anxiety of a con- 

 stant watchfulness has to be continued even 

 at night. Long-eared owls are very beneficial 

 birds, feeding as they do largely on rodents. 

 They are rather active during the day, often 

 being found on the ground hunting mice. 



It was one of those supremely calm morn- 

 ings. Through the mist rising slowly over the 

 lake came the wild laugh of a loon. Pres- 

 ently, his form emerged into view; then he 



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