84 nature'study. 



pines. I wondered when my anticipated fun in fooling 

 the birds was coming. 



This was uncanny. Did I hear an owl hooting? No. 

 I began to wish that my owl would turn his head a little ; 

 then to fancy that he did. Then I grew irritated because 

 he stared so. Horrid, wide-eyed creature ! How had I 

 ever endured his stuffed pomposity so many years on my 

 bookshelves ? I would go off and leave him here in the 

 woods, and hope Minerva would come to look after her 

 own. I would have no more of him. Then a chirp ; next 

 a twitter, and I was entirely the hopeful bird-lover again, 

 with interest and affection for even stuffed specimens. One 

 chickadee said to his mate : 



" My gracious ! Will you look at that ! " 



"What?" 



" Come quickly and see this great horned owl." 



" Children, this is the great fellow that pounces on j'ou 

 in the dark, as you sleep on your perch, and crushes you, 

 and eats you, bones, feathers and all. Look out ! Be- 

 ware ! ' ' 



And down the whole family came to a safe distance in 

 an opposite tree, calling loudly as they hopped over the 

 spiral stairs. Then in wildest curiosity they flew to his 

 tree, daring even to descend to his level, seeing it was day- 

 light. Now came more birds, attracted by the unusual 

 noise. These chattered and called and swelled the chorus. 

 Soon four or five were flying around his head, and perch- 

 ing within three feet of him, but not below. Then a soft 

 breeze came and ruffled the owl's feathers, making him 

 look so ready to pounce that with hysterical chatterings 

 the more venturesome whirled to a safer retreat. 



By this time surely twenty-five chickadees were in the 

 wildest state of excitement. With them two black and 

 white creepers, a pair of unexcitable Nashville warblers, 



