The Tawny Owl 81 



by the parent bird, while climbing a tree with the 

 intention of taking some owlets. Hearing his 

 approach, the owl flew out of her nest and struck the 

 unfortunate man with both feet, piercing, with the 

 long sharp claw, one of his eyes, so that he lost the 

 sight of it, and all but inflicting the same injury on 

 the other eye. 



Should the hoot of the Tawny Owl be heard no 

 more, our woods would lose one of their chief charms 

 by night, and if this useful bird is exterminated, the 

 farmer will soon find that he has lost one of his best 

 friends. 



