150 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



derous intent, and they never neglect an oppor- 

 tunity to destroy or drive them far away. 



In any district where its race does not predomi- 

 nate, a bird of predatory habits is an outlaw in the 

 eyes of all the other feathered inhabitants, and they 

 band together to encompass its defeat or annihila- 

 tion. And in this they are enforcing the law of 

 their community, since law looks to the protection 

 of the citizens of the given district from the depreda- 

 tions of any individuals from within or without. 

 Surely no better motive could be found. 



Once a great white owl that must have come far 

 from his sub-arctic home, was discovered sleeping 

 the morning hours away in the rafters of an old 

 deserted barn in Morgan Park, Illinois. He was 

 a large specimen and a beautiful one. Coming 

 upon him was a surprise and a delight for the 

 naturalist. He had entered the barn only out of 

 curiosity in the course of a long tramp over hill 

 and dale, but the tragedy which his entrance caused 

 has always been a matter of regret to him. The 

 owl slowly opened his great yellow eyes and looked 

 down through the gloom to where the intruder 

 stood admiring him. Then he became frightened, 

 and, spreading his magnificent wings, he dropped 

 to the level of the barn door and flew out into the 

 sunlight and to his death. 



