The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



his small cousin, Spooky the Screech Owl, Hooty 

 seemed to have no neck at all. He looked as if 

 his great head was set directly on his shoulders. 

 From each side of his head two great tufts of 

 feathers stood out like ears or horns. His bill was 

 sharply hooked. He was dressed wholly in red- 

 dish-brown with little buff and black markings, 

 and on his throat was a white patch. His legs 

 were feathered, and so were his feet clear to the 

 great hooked claws. 



But it was on the great, round, fierce, yellow eyes 

 that Peter kept his own eyes. He had always 

 thought of Hooty as being able to see only in the 

 dusk of evening or on moonlight nights, but 

 somehow he had a feeling that even now in broad 

 daylight Hooty could see perfectly well, and he was 

 quite right. 



For a long time Peter sat there without moving. 

 He dared not do anything else. After he had 

 recovered from his first fright he began to wonder 

 what Hooty and Mrs. Hooty were doing at that old 

 nest. His curiosity was aroused. He felt that he 

 simply must find out. By and by Hooty flew 

 away. Very carefully, so as not to attract the 

 attention of Mrs. Hooty, Peter stole back the way 

 he had come. When he was far enough away to 

 feel reasonably safe, he scampered as fast as ever he 

 could. He wanted to get away from that place, 

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