THE MOPING OWL 



as to make unprovoked attack on all and 

 sundry who unwittingly approach closer to 

 the tree than these devoted householders 

 think desirable. Accounts of this troublesome 

 mood in nesting owls come from several 

 parts of the country, and notably from 

 Wales. In one case on record a pair of barn 

 owls had their home in a tree overlooking 

 Milford Haven, and the vicinity of the nest 

 soon became dangerous. The male owl tore 

 a boy's ear, knocked a man down, and 

 attacked numerous human beings and dogs 

 that made use of a path leading past the 

 tree ; and these episodes were in fact of 

 daily occurrence until some one shot the 

 bird. Another pair of barn owls nested in a 

 wood on the shore of Menai Strait, and hi 

 this case the young birds managed to fall 

 out of the nest, and lay on the ground hi 

 full view of a public right of way. Why the 

 old birds did not put their offspring back 

 in the nest no one knew. Possibly they 

 realised that the talons, which so efficiently 

 gripped rats, might not prove gentle enough 

 for the transport of owlets. At any rate, 

 whatever their reason, they left the young 

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