Owls. 



21 



large trees and shrubs ; but his master grew tired of 

 him, and gave him to five young ladies, the daughters 

 of an old friend living in the town, who made a great 

 pet of him. " Pat " used to live a great deal in the 

 kitchen, and was particularly fond of getting into the 

 meat-screen and basking in its warmth; but if he 

 could get an opportunity of stealing out of the 

 kitchen, he would set off on an exploring expedition 

 over the house, and was met with in all parts of it 

 sometimes perched among the ornaments on the draw- 

 ing-room mantelpiece, apparently admiring himself in 

 the mirror ; sometimes in the bed-rooms, washing 

 himself in the water-jugs and looking at himself in the 

 looking-glasses. He had a great eye for colours, and 

 had a peculiar fondness for pink, perching upon any 

 pretty silk of that colour, and eyeing it with great 

 satisfaction. He had strong likes and dislikes, and 

 took a violent antipathy to a young girl who was in 

 the habit of coming to the house. On one occasion 

 Pat escaped to the roof of the stable, and his mis- 

 tresses were afraid they would lose him : he resisted 

 all their entreaties to come down ; but on seeing the 

 girl crossing the yard, he immediately flew down upon 

 her, and the servants were obliged to seize him before 

 he had done her mischief with his formidable beak 

 and claws. After this escapade one of his wings was 

 cut, to prevent his getting away. He was very much 

 pleased when he could get into the drawing-room, 



