Owls 225 



neighbourhood. Perhaps old associations were 

 too painful; perhaps she was shot on her way 

 South that winter ; or perhaps she took another 

 mate with more sense and less greed, who pre- 

 ferred to reside elsewhere. 



As you may imagine, fish hawks always live 

 near water. In summer they frequent the in- 

 lets along the Atlantic coast, but over inland 

 lakes and rivers also, many fly back and forth. 

 You may know by their larger size — they are 

 almost two feet long — and by their slow flight 

 that they are not the winter gulls. Their dusky 

 backs and white under parts harmonise well with 

 the marine picture, North or South. Their plum- 

 age contains more white than that of any other 

 hawk. No matter how foggy the day or how 

 quietly the diving osprey may splash to catch 

 his fish dinner, any bald-headed eagle in the 

 vicinity is sure to detect him in the act of seiz' 

 ing it, and then to relieve him of it instantly. 



OWLS 



Like many children I know, owls begin to ho 

 especially lively toward night, only they make 

 no noise as they fly about. Very soft, fluffy 

 plumage muffles their flight so that they can 

 drop upon a meadow mouse creeping through 

 the grass in the stilly night before this wee. 



