The Tawny Ovl. 81 
by the parent bird, while climbing a tree with the 
intention of taking some owlets. Hearing his 
approach, the owl flew out of her nest and struck the 
unfortunate man with both feet, piercing, with the 
long sharp claw, one of his eyes, so that he lost the 
sight of it, and all but inflicting the same injury on 
the other eye. 
Should the hoot of the Tawny Owl be heard no 
more, our woods would lose one of their chief charms 
by night, and if this useful bird is exterminated, the 
farmer will soon find that he has lost one of his best 
friends. 
