ULULA STRIDULA. 175 



creatures, disappear when their homes and shelter are torn 

 down — a fact well known to John Knox, who, when he wanted 

 to get rid of Popery, shrieked, from a protesting pulpit (our 

 own old Trinity, or three aisled Parish Church — since con- 

 verted into the present ugly, but massive, Town Kirk in South 

 Street, within which stands the marble monument of Arch- 

 bishop Sharpe) " Pu' doon the doo-cot, and the doos will flee," 

 as was done to our Metropolitan Cathedral and Castle, and 

 made them the nesting-places of feathered screech-owls — 

 aye, and hooting ones too ! 



In 1886 the following interesting account of "Three persons 

 attacked by an Owl" appeared in the Scotsman : — 



" A farmer's son of Marhamchurch is lying in Stratton Hospital from 

 severe injuries inflicted on him by an owl. A pair of owls had their nest in 

 an elm tree, and, as they made raids on the farmer's chickens to supply 

 food for their young, one of the farmer's sons climbed the tree, and took 

 two of the young owls and kept them some days, feeding them by hand. 

 He had one of the young ones in his hand showing it to a friend, when one 

 of the old birds suddenly pounced upon him, and struck him heavily on the 

 head. He dropped the young owl, and defended himself with a stick ; 

 but the owl renewed the attack, and wounded the boy in the eye so seriously 

 that the sight has been destroyed. The father, who saw the attack, im- 

 mediately killed the two young birds, whereon the parent owl attacked him 

 and another son, inflicting wounds in the neck of both. The farmer then 

 went for his gun, but the owl escaped. " 



A proof that this powerful owl's hooked beak, strong tarsi, and 

 sharp talons were not given in vain. The Chief Constable of 

 Roxburghshire wrote to the Field about the same time : — 



"A remarkable circumstance came under my notice a few days ago. 

 When inspecting my men at Hawick, on June 17th, one of them showed a 

 damaged face. On asking the cause, he said that when on duty that 

 morning, on the road near Branxholm, he was attacked by an owl. iSome- 

 what doubting, I pushed the inquiry, and learned that the same owl had 

 attacked a number of people, whose names were given me, in the summer of 

 1885 ; and that during the present season its attacks have been repeated and 

 persistent. The first attack on the constable was made about 10 p.m. on the 

 14th. When he passed the tree on which it was perched it gave a screech ; 

 and then, darting at him, struck him with its beak and claws on the back 

 of the neck, cutting the skin. The second time it again gave warning ; 

 and, with the view of securing the bird, he turned round and walked back- 

 wards, but before he could defend himself the owl darted on him, struck 

 him on the left cheek and under eyelid. After striking, it flew away and 

 perched on a tree on the opposite side of the road from where it usually 

 perched, and when the constable turned round, and was proceeding on his 

 way, it darted on him again, striking him on the back of the neck. I have 

 the names of a dozen people who were attacked in the same way, near the 

 same place. But the most determined attack was made on the 18th — the 

 night after the attack on the constable — on two men, who were walking on 

 the road about eleven o'clock at night. One of the men was next to the 

 tree on which the owl was sitting, which, without warning, darted on him, 

 struck him on the head, and carried off his cap. It attacked him thrice in 



