C. H. Merriam Birds of Connecticut. 71 



Dr. Wm. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, Conn., relates the following 

 amusing anecdote, which serves well to illustrate " the nature of the 

 beast" under certain conditions, and at the same time affords us an 

 excellent example of conjugal affection and innate wisdom in our 

 own species : " A gentleman who fancied himself a taxidermist be- 

 cause, forsooth, he had seen a single specimen stuffed, determined to 

 allow that talent no longer to be buried, but bring it to light by 

 practically demonstrating to the world in general, and mankind in 

 particular, the way by which the feathered species can forever look 

 ' as natural as life and a little more so.' Having obtained a specimen 

 of the Barred Owl that was only slightly winged, he let it loose in 

 the cellar till a leisure day. The bird, with only the tip of the wing 

 injured, and having free use of its limbs and feet, could visit any part 

 of her prison, and finding herself sole mistress, was not long in 

 appropriating anything and everything that would promote her own 

 comfort and ease. The potato and apple bins, as well as the soap 

 and pork barrels were indiscriminately and alike used for places of 

 rest and repose. The day arrived when this nuisance could no longer 

 be tolerated. Approaching, with hand extended, to seize the Owl, 

 my friend received the benefit of her claws in and around his fingers. 

 Grasping the bird's leg to disengage it from its gripe, the other claw 

 was instantly brought in requisition and seized the other hand. 

 Both hands being now securely held by the bird, no wonder that our 

 hero called out lustily for help when he saw the Owl expanding her- 

 self almost indefinitely, and snapping her bill in anticipation of the 

 dainty repast which, according to appearance, she was about to swal- 

 low ! The terrified scream alarmed the whole household, and the 

 rush down the cellar stairs reminds one very forcibly of the second 

 and fourth illustrations in Bachelor Butterfly, on page 14th, where he 

 jumped overboard, and, in order to save the life of the Naturalist, 

 was followed by his omnipresent Dorothy and the whole crew. His 

 better half becoming alarmed for the safety of her beloved, seized the 

 enraged bird by the head and pulled with all the force that conjugal 

 fidelity or nervous excitement could arouse. The more she pulled 

 the deeper were the talons of the Owl inserted, as was evidenced by 

 the musical entertainment given by our friend, which comprised a 

 scale of at least two octaves, with trills and variations that would 

 have astonished an Italian prima donna ! What more could be 

 done ? The adage that ' necessity is the mother of invention' proved 

 true in this case, for the imminent danger, to say nothing of the ex- 

 cruciating pain, roused our hero to the importance of trying what 



