230 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



surface of the water. As we speak of lowland 

 fox, and hill fox, so we speak of stream otter, and 

 sea otter; the latter growing bigger, probably 

 because of more generous feeding, as he approaches 

 the coast. The sea otter is common on the west 

 coast. I do not suppose that the variety exists 

 here. 



No animals have suffered such long, and relentless 

 persecution as the owls. This may be, partially, 

 accounted for by the prejudice created by their 

 nocturnal habits. Even the gamekeeper of the 

 old school, who was usually a merciful man, shot 

 them, and nailed the skin on the door of an out- 

 house, beside the horse-shoe, as a warning to evil- 

 doers. And, when remonstrated with, shook his 

 head only the more stubbornly. Yet they are 

 man's unpaid servants, and, with the doubtful 

 exception of the tawny owl, do no harm to 

 counterbalance the good. 



Owls are Nature's mousers, hunting in the barns, 

 round the steading, along the hedgerows, and 

 across the meadow, everywhere keeping down 

 what would soon become a pest. Introduced to 

 the dwelling-house, the white owl supersedes the 

 necessity of a cat ; and a most picturesque cat he 

 is. His silent flight, revealed only by the waft 



