SOME SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS 159 
‘dichromatism’ or two-colour phase, and this is one of the 
things for which the Wise Men can give no positive reason; 
so it is another question like those about the flight and 
travels of the birds for one of you to find out in future. 
“Bring the box up to the orchard, Tommy, and, after we 
have seen the gray Screech Owls, you can open the door 
and put the box in the tree and see what will happen.” 
Before they reached the gate of Birdland, they heard 
a commotion inside; Jays were screaming in a great state 
of rage and alarm, and, as they drew nearer, another sound 
blended with the screaming, a hissing sound like “shay — 
shay — shay,” and the snapping of beaks. 
“The Jays have found the Owls out, and they’re hopping 
mad,” said Jacob, who was standing in the shelter of a 
tree-trunk, enjoying the scene. “The Jays daren’t 
really touch the Owls, only jeer, and the Owls only snap 
their beaks and hiss in return because they don’t like to 
fly out in bright light; all you get back by the fence and 
watch out.” 
The children did as Jacob suggested and Tommy put 
his box on top of the wall and, at a signal from Gray Lady, 
unfastened the slats. At first the little Red Owl stretched 
his neck and snapped his beak; then, as he heard the voices 
of the Jays, he backed into the corner of the box and drew 
himself up thin and long, so that he did not look like the 
same bird that had been so plump and fluffy a few seconds 
before. . 
“That’s just the way he did this morning when I found 
him in the pigeon-house,”’ said Tommy; “in the dark he 
didn’t look a bit like a bird, but more like a corn-cob on end. 
“There! look there, Gray Lady.” And Tommy pointed 
