38 THE OWL DESTROYS VERMIN. 



for the careful protection of this nocturnal wan- 

 derer. 



Mr. Waterton has ably and most agreeably ad- 

 vocated the cause of these interesting birds. Like 

 himself I have been a careful observer of them, 

 and have also examined the places of their retreat. 

 There pellets of mice may be seen in abundance, 

 but I never found a feather, or the slightest in- 

 dication that birds of any kind, either old or 

 young, had formed part of the prey of the owl. 

 The charge against this bird of its sucking eggs is 

 equally erroneous. It lives in perfect harmony 

 with pigeons in the dove-cot, who appear neither 

 to fear or to avoid it. 



The owl is a great favourite with me, and I like 

 to see it flying softly and silently along the side 

 of a hedge-row, or under a spreading oak, when 



The Moon, in maiden beauty, walks the blue 

 And glorious canopy of crystal heaven, 

 In purity supreme. 



There are few scenes in nature more beautiful 

 than a moon -light night, especially, when the 

 glorious luminary may be seen apparently wad- 

 ing amidst the clouds, which sometimes obscure 

 it, and as they hurry past, again bursting forth in 

 all its beauty. The owl, the night-jar, the flitting 

 bat, and even the sullen hum of the beetle, add 

 to the charm of this nocturnal scenery. How 

 cold must that heart be which is not then lifted up 



