THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



to dispose of the birds. They tied strings to their legs, and 

 kept them in the cabin, feeding them, and taking as much care 

 of them as if they were babies, until they came to Norwich, 

 when they sent them to Bell, who took care of them until their 

 return. 



After taking the hawks to the boat, the boys went back to 

 the wood and separated, so that they might cover more ground. 

 Suddenly peals of laughter were heard coming from the corner 

 of the wood. Frank, pushing aside the branches to get a clearer 

 view, was surprised to see Dick staring at a thick Scotch fir, 

 holding his sides, and laughing until the tears ran down his 

 cheeks. Frank hastened up to him to see where the fun was. 

 Dick could only point, for he was too far gone for speech. 

 Frank looked in the direction he pointed, and immediately 

 burst into a fit of laughter far more uproarious than Dick's. 

 Jinimy, running up as fast as he could, saw both his friends 

 laughing and capering like mad. 



" What on earth is the matter ? Have you both gone crazy ? " 

 They pointed to the Scotch fir. Jimmy looked, and imme- 

 diately fell a roaring with laughter as 

 hard as the others. 



This is the explanation. On a hori- 

 zontal bough of the tree were seated six 

 young long eared owls. They were fu.ly 

 fledged, but unable to fly, and according 

 to their custom they had left their nest 

 and were perched together on this branch 

 waiting for their parents to feed them. 

 They looked most extremely absurd and 

 ridiculous as they sat, each on one foot 

 swaying to and fro after therr manner on 

 the bough, and gravely winking their 

 large brown eyes at the intruders. It is 

 impossible to give any idea of the comic- 

 ality of the scene any more than it is 

 possible to give a true description in 

 words of the grotesque gestures of a 

 clown. Of this owl Morris says, . 



" It is readily tamed, and affords much amusement by the 

 many grotesque attitudes it assumes, to which its ears and eyes 

 give piquancy. It may often be detected that a small orifice is 



LONG-EARED OWL. 



